A tell-tale glow: Immunofluorescence reveals proteins from papilloma viruses that have been experimentally shuttled into living cells
Almost one-fifth of tumor diseases are associated with viral and bacterial pathogens. Cancer of the cervix is among these. At half a million new cases each year, cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related disease among women. The leading risk factor for cervical cancer is infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). The goal of our working group is to develop vaccines preventing such viral infections as well as to scrutinize existing strategies for their effectiveness. In doing so, we are focusing on immune-therapeutic problems. Presently we are pursuing various approaches to develop a vaccine against HPV.