Part of the patients we receive in the ICID have problems handling HPV infections, mycobacterium infections and cytopenia.

Many Danes are infected with HPV every year, but in most cases the immune system itself is able to eradicate the infection.
In few people the infection can lead to some very serious diseases.

More than 100 different kinds of HPV exist. Some cause condylomas, others warts on the feet and hands. The serious types can lead to the development of cervix cancer among women and colorectal cancer among men.

Background:

This research project investigates why people infected with the same type of HVP are affected differently by the infection. Furthermore we investigate why some people are able to live with the virus without showing any symptoms and are able to resolve the infection them selves, while others suffer severe outbreaks of warts on their hands and feet or get cervical cancer.

We believe that the cause of the many different illness manifestations among people infected with the same HPV type is due to a defect in their immune system. If we can find an explanation of the inability of the immune system to eradicate the virus infection, we can perhaps help these patients.

Non-typical course of illness

A well-functioning immune system should be able to handle mycobacteria which can be found everywhere in our surroundings. They are only the cause of illness when people with a dysfunctional immune system are infected. Among these few patients the bacteria can lead to a long lasting infection that in worst-case scenario can develop as tuberculosis. Therefore we examine the genes of the patients to investigate if they have an immune defect that underlie their non-typical course of illness.

The aim of this research project is to develop more effective ways to diagnose, treat and prevent infections that are caused by an underlying immune defect. These patients are in some cases forced to get a bone marrow transplant and in other cases they can be treated with a vaccine against HPV.
Through the project we expect to expand our immunological knowledge and thereby be able to develop new and better ways of treatment.