Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Tonsil Tissue in Healthy Adults and Colocalization in Biofilm of Tonsillar Crypts

Abstract

Biofilm is present in the tonsillar crypts in a considerable proportion of tonsil tissues and may be reproducibly identified. Human papillomavirus is demonstrated to colocalize to the crypt biofilm. This has important implications with respect to the determination of HPV prevalence rates in the oropharynx. It may also play a role in the pathogenesis of HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma.