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Human papillomavirus type 35 in women and men
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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Structure HPV type 35
The human papillomavirus is an antigen substance that the body perceives as foreign and begins to produce antibodies to fight it. The virus has its own DNA, is small in size and has a simple structure without an outer lipid membrane. [ 3 ]
HPV is divided into genera, designated by Greek letters, species (Arabic numerals and genus letters), and genotypes (Arabic numerals), of which there are more than a hundred.
Life cycle HPV type 35
HPV 35, like its other genotypes, penetrates the basal layer of the epidermis through cracks, skin damage, mucous membranes, gradually penetrating into the cell nucleus. Its DNA division occurs synchronously with the cell DNA division, visually manifesting itself in the form of papillomas and condylomas.
The existence of the virus outside the chromosomes of the skin cell is considered a benign form; its integration into the genome, leading to damage to the squamous and glandular epithelium, turns it into a malignant neoplasm.
There are five phases in the HPV life cycle, they include (1) infection, (2) proliferation, (3) genomic phase, (4) viral synthesis, and (5) shedding. 19 In the first phase, basal cells are infected with HPV.[ 4 ] The second phase is the expression of early viral proteins (E1 and E2). The virus retains its genomic material with a low copy number (10-200 copies per cell). This is followed by the proliferative phase and the early proteins E6 and E7 are expressed. These proteins stimulate cell cycle progression. Genomic amplification occurs in the suprabasal layer and the early proteins are expressed (E1, E2, E4, and E5). Viral synthesis then occurs and the late proteins (L1 and L2) are expressed. In the stratified epithelium, the virus is released as the cells die and the virus begins to infect other cells. [ 5 ] This infectious cell cycle is believed to occur over a period of two to three weeks. The incubation period can range from 1 to 20 months. [ 6 ]
How is HPV 35 transmitted?
HPV 35 infection occurs through contact. When the surface layers of the epithelium of warts and other neoplasms are peeled off, infectious viral particles enter the environment.
The virus can be transmitted from person to person through everyday contact: through shared dishes, bedding, towels; through tactile contact, sexual intercourse, from mother to child during childbirth, and surgical instruments.
Symptoms
Most people infected with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems. Most signs of HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away on their own within two years. [ 7 ]
Most often, HPV type 35 manifests itself in the form of warts (plantar, palmar, genital).
The most common disease caused by the human papilloma virus in women is cancer of the cervix, less often of the vulva and vagina. Infection usually occurs after the onset of sexual activity (sometimes a simple touch of the genitals is enough) and with normal immunity can develop up to 20 years.
Pointed condylomas, which are not life-threatening but have a negative impact on sexual life, have become quite common. [ 8 ]
HPV 35 in men manifests itself as papillary growths on the penis. Regardless of gender, the virus can affect the anus, nasopharynx and other parts of the body. [ 9 ]
Diagnostics
Laboratory diagnostics are based on molecular genetic methods of detecting fragments of the HPV genome in scrapings and other biopsies. There are special test systems for detecting the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that indicate not only the presence of the virus, but also determine the genotype and lg number of copies per 10 5 cells or the viral load.
A quantity of up to 3 lg HPV DNA is considered clinically insignificant or normal; 3-5 indicates an existing risk of cancer cell formation; over 5 indicates a high probability.
For HPV diagnostics, histological and cystological methods of studying biomaterial are also used, which allow to determine precancerous changes in the epithelium. In many countries of the world, a screening test is also used together with cytology, it is distinguished by high diagnostic accuracy. [ 10 ], [ 11 ]
Other methods used to detect HPV include nucleic acid hybridization assays (Southern blot, in situ hybridization, and dot blot) [ 12 ], signal amplification assays (the Digene® HPV Test using Hybrid Capture® 2 (hc2) technology and the Cervista® HPV HRV Assay are the only methods currently approved by the FDA) [ 13 ], nucleic acid amplification methods, quantification, and determination of HPV viral load [ 14 ]
Treatment
What to do if HPV type 35 is detected, can it be cured? At the moment, not a single drug has been developed in the world that can overcome HPV, including 35. The consequences of its action are subject to therapy. [ 15 ]
Immunomodulatory agents used to treat human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are primarily used to treat external anogenital warts caused by HPV. [ 16 ] Interferon alpha, beta, and gamma can be administered topically and systemically. They stimulate cytokine production and exhibit potent antiviral activity. Recently, Imiquimod, an imidazoquinolamine derivative, has been used. It has no antiviral activity in vitro but stimulates macrophages to secrete cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon alpha and gamma. Its mechanisms of action are unknown. Imiquimod has been extensively studied and is a new drug in the treatment of HPV-35. Imiquimod is dosed individually.
Prevention HPV type 35
The only preventive method to avoid HPV infection is vaccination, effective against four types of the virus, which unfortunately does not include the 35th. In our country, it is not mandatory in the list of immunizations, but those wishing to protect themselves from the most dangerous serotypes can do so in private clinics.
The vaccination can be done at any age, but teenagers will need 2 injections and adults 3.
The vaccine currently used in the NHS national vaccination programme is called Gardasil. Gardasil protects against 4 types of HPV: 6, 11, 16 and 18, which cause the majority (over 70%) of cervical cancers in the UK.[ 17 ]
American Cancer Society Recommendations for Use of the HPV Vaccine
- Routine HPV vaccination for girls and boys should begin at age 11–12. The vaccination series can begin as early as age 9.
- HPV vaccination is also recommended for women ages 13 to 26 and for men ages 13 to 21 who have not yet started the vaccine series or have started but not completed the series. Men ages 22 to 26 can also be vaccinated.*
- HPV vaccination is also recommended at age 26 for men who have sex with men and for people with weakened immune systems (including people with HIV infection) if they have not been previously vaccinated.
* For people aged 22 to 26 years who have not yet started the vaccine series or have started but not completed the series, it is important to know that vaccination at older ages is less effective in reducing the risk of cancer.
Using a condom during sex also reduces the risk of infection, but does not completely eliminate it, since HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom. [ 18 ]