Identification of the skin virome in a young boy with widespread HPV2-positive warts that completely regressed after administration of tetravalent human papillomavirus vaccine.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are normally controlled by an intact cell-mediated and humoral immune system. Patients with cell-mediated immunodeficiencies, whether primary, secondary or iatrogenic are all, therefore, at increased risk of developing extensive, persistent and recurrent warts.1 The sequestration of HPV in epithelial cells can however provide protection for the virus, resulting in inefficient activation of innate immunity, poor priming of the adaptive response and permits infections to persist, even in immunocompetent individuals.2 In addition, genome variations, especially those enhancing viral promoter activities, have been associated with enhanced viral replication and unusual clinical manifestations.3-5 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.