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Abstract

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) are human pathogens of high biomedical significance worldwide. Interestingly, increasing epidemiological evidence indicates that individuals with active HPV infections possess an enhanced risk of being infected by HIV‐1. These findings raise the possibility that HPVs may directly or indirectly increase the pathogenicity of lentiviruses, such as HIV‐1. Using a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus‐G‐(VSV‐G)‐pseudotyped vector as an experimental model system, and subsequently extending these analyses to HIV‐1, this study defines a possible scenario which could account for the epidemiological association between HPV and HIV‐1 infections. These results provide first insights into the interplay of two important human pathogens which may have profound clincial implications. Moreover, the findings of this study support the idea that the HPV vaccination may have a preventive effect against HIV‐1 infections.