Persistent infections by the high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause 5% of total cancers worldwide, including essentially all of the cervical cancers in women. The overall goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms through which HPVs infect and attain persistence in host epithelium. Knowledge of these mechanisms will broaden our understanding of viral-host interactions, may unveil new aspects of cell biology, and could identify potential targets for therapeutic or prophylactic intervention to prevent HPV infections and their associated cancers.
