This Week in Virology TWiV 1309: Maybe they're all cancer vaccines
Mar 29, 2026
Deep dive into why HPV virus-like particle vaccines uniquely block infection through long-lived immune responses. Exploration of post-attachment antibody mechanisms and how polyclonal responses neutralize HPV. Examination of evidence that prior respiratory viral infections can reprogram lungs and accelerate tumor growth. Discussion of how vaccination and targeting neutrophil-driven pathways might reduce infection‑linked cancer risk.
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Mike Bishop's Canary Yellow Socks Story
- Rich Condit recalled Mike Bishop as a memorable, generous scientist who gave talks laced with literature and hosted junior visitors at UCSF.
- Bishop once interviewed for a chair's job wearing canary yellow socks with high-water pants, a vivid personal detail Rich remembered.
Multiple Post-Attachment Neutralization Mechanisms
- Multiple monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies from vaccinated people neutralize HPV even after the virus has attached to cells, via distinct post-attachment mechanisms.
- Mechanisms include retention at cell surface, antibody-induced shedding, and antibody-mediated intracellular trafficking and degradation of virus particles.
Why HPV Immunity Is So Durable
- Sterilizing efficacy likely reflects both unique HPV biology and unusually durable plasma cell antibody responses after VLP vaccination.
- Open questions remain whether longevity is antigen-specific, VLP-modality dependent, or boosted by exposures to many papillomavirus types.
