- Human papillomavirus any of numerous species that cause warts, particularly plantar and venereal warts, on the skin and mucous membranes in humans, transmitted by either direct or indirect contact. They have also been associated with cervical cancer.
- A genus of viruses (family Papovaviridae) containing double-stranded circular DNA (MW 5 × 106), having virions about 55 nm in diameter, and including the papilloma and wart viruses of humans and other animals, some of which are associated with induction of carcinoma. More than 70 types are known to infect humans and are differentiated by DNA homology.
Synonyms
Papilloma virus