How Does the HPV Virus Destroy the Host Cell?
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HPV
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The human papillomavirus, more commonly referred to as simply HPV, is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. The HPV virus is the cause of conditions such as genital and anal warts, warts on other parts of the body (often the hands and feet), and in some extreme cases it's a major contributor to women developing cervical cancer. There are literally hundreds of different varieties of HPV, and how each one will act in a certain host will vary. However, there are some commonalities in their behavior patterns with regard to cells.
Infection
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Once a person is infected with HPV (usually through sex, but many times through a fluid exchange such as blood), the virus begins to seek out cells. HPV invades a cell, but only changes the nucleus of the host cell. This is the way in which HPV is detected, because the cells that contain it look bizarre under a microscope. They often have two nuclei, and the cells are described as squamous. Since the nucleus is changed, that means that the DNA of the human papillomavirus has overwritten that of the healthy cell. Once the nucleus is in place, HPV will wait till the proper time to reproduce.
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Reproduction
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An cell that's been pirated by HPV is usually referred to as a keratinocyte. These cells usually stay dormant until they move from the lower layers of the skin up to the higher layers. Once the infected cells reach the epitheleum and begin to degenerate naturally, the virus is released. Once the HPV virus reaches the epitheleum it begins to infect other tissues, causing the tell tale warts. If a person is suspected to have HPV, then the genetic material of one of the warts will be tested. If the warts are caused by HPV, then every cell that makes up the wart will have the genetic material of HPV in it.
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