Friday, January 22, 2010
Sjoerd van der Burg and Judith Boer (Centre for Medical Systems Biology) have received a TOP grant of € 665,000 from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). These funds will be devoted to a 5-year study into how the humane papilloma virus (HPV) can circumvent the immune system and remain nestled in the body for many years. As part of this study, researchers will also look at the influence of common genetic variations in the proteins involved in this process.
Infections with humane papilloma viruses are very common. In most cases, the virus can long keep itself hidden from the immune system, thereby causing a persistent infection. A persistent infection with one of the so-called higher risk humane papilloma viruses – of which there are at least 15 – may lead to the emergence of cancer. While it is as yet unclear how the humane papilloma virus manages to keep itself concealed from the immune system, we do know that cells infected by these viruses have receptors that can recognize intruding viruses.