March 4 is International HPV Awareness Day

03/03 

Papillomaviruses are annoying pests that occasionally turn into deadly dangers. They attack cells in our skin and mucous membranes. When they infect cells, they ramp up the normal growth functions, often forming warts. Usually our defenses are able to get the infection under control, but in some exceptional cases, the virus persists and the unwanted growth can turn into cancer. Alarmingly, infection by a few particularly-virulent types of papillomavirus is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Fortunately, by studying these viruses, scientists have discovered highly effective ways to fight them.

Visit PDB-101 to learn more about Human Papillomavirus and Vaccines at Molecule of the Month and to build a paper model of the virus.

Build a paper model of HPV at PDB-101