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Background Our objective was to identify virological and serological predictors of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Methods HIV-positive MSM were recruited from a longitudinal study during which anal self-swabs and serum were collected at up to 5 bi-annual visits. Swabs were human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyped, and the type-specific HPV viral load in the anal swabs was determined. Serum antibodies to the E6, E7, E1, E2, and L1 proteins of 7 high-risk HPV (hrHPV) types and HPV6 and 11 were analyzed. The participants who had a high-resolution anoscopy after the last study visit were included in the current analysis. Anal HSIL was diagnosed by histopathological examinations of anal biopsies. The causative HPV type of anal HSIL was determined in whole tissue sections (WTS) and by laser capture micro-dissection if more than one HPV-type was found in WTS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study whether persistent anal HPV infections, HPV viral loads, and seropositivity for HPV were predictors of anal HSIL, either in general or caused by the concordant HPV type. Results Of 193 HIV-positive MSM, 50 (26%) were diagnosed with anal HSIL. HrHPV persistence in anal swabs was common, varying by hrHPV type between 3–21%. Anal HPV persistence was the only determinant independently associated with anal HSIL, both in general and by concordant, causative HPV type. Conclusions Persistent HPV infections were strongly associated with anal HSIL, in general as well as for the concordant HPV type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most commonly found human papillomavirus (HPV) types in cervical cancer are HPV16 and HPV18. Genome variants of these types have been associated with differential carcinogenic potential. To date, only a handful of studies have described HPV18 whole genome sequencing results. Here we describe HPV18 variant diversity and conservation of persistent infections in a longitudinal retrospective cohort study., Methods: Cervical self-samples were obtained annually over four years and genotyped on the SPF10-DEIA-LiPA 25 platform. Clearing and persistent HPV18 positive infections were selected, amplified in two overlapping fragments, and sequenced using 32 sequence primers., Results: Complete viral genomes were obtained from 25 participants with persistent and 26 participants with clearing HPV18 infections, resulting in 52 unique HPV18 genomes. Sublineage A3 was predominant in this population. The consensus viral genome was completely conserved over time in persistent infections, with one exception, where different HPV18 variants were identified in follow-up samples., Conclusions: This study identified a diverse set of HPV18 variants. In persistent infections, the consensus viral genome is conserved. The identification of only one HPV18 infection with different major variants in follow-up implies that this is a potentially rare event. This dataset adds 52 HPV18 genome variants to Genbank, more than doubling the currently available HPV18 information resource, and all but one variant are unique additions., Competing Interests: Pascal van der Weele and Audrey J. King declare no conflicts of interest. Chris J.L.M. Meijer received speaker’s fees from GlaxoSmithKline, Qiagen, SPMSD/Merck, Roche, Menarini, and Seegene. On occasion, he served on the scientific advisory boards (expert meeting) of GSK, Qiagen, SPMSD/Merck, Roche, and Genticel and as a consultant for Qiagen and Genticel. He holds a small number of Qiagen shares and is a minority shareholder of Self-Screen BV, a spin-off company of Vrije Universiteit University Medical Centre, of which he is also part time director. Until 2014, he held a small number of shares in Delphi Biosciences. Until April 2016, he was a minority stock holder of Diassay BV.