We investigated the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the distribution of high-risk HPV genotypes among 2,308 high-risk Korean women to predict how much the current prophylactic HPV vaccines might affect the prevention of cervical cancer in Korea. HPV DNA was detected in 939 women (40.7%) but only one-third of women were positive for HPV-16 and/or HPV-18, the genotypes used for developing the HPV vaccines. Thus, the development of area-specific HPV vaccines based on dominant HPV genotypes in our country is needed for preventing HPV infection and the development of premalignant lesions in the cervix of Korean women. FindingsInfection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is recognized as a causal and necessary factor for developing cervical cancer [1,2], which is the fourth of the most common cancer in South Korean women [3]. More than 140 different HPV genotypes have been characterized and approximately 50 of these genotypes are known to infect the genital tract and be oncogenic or high-risk (HR) types . HR genotypes are significantly associated with progression to invasive cervical cancer [2,4]. Therefore, assessment of the HPV genotypic spectrum among sexually active women is important for predicting public health problems such as the risks of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer [5,6].HPV-16, the most common HR type, is detected in 50 -60% of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions and invasive cervical cancers and HPV-18 is followed by an incidence of 10 -20% [4,7]. Thus, HPV-16 and -18 are considered as the types responsible for causing most cervical cancers in many countries [4,7]. Clinical trials have reported that these vaccines can protect many uninfected women from developing precancerous cervical lesions caused by 9]. In spite of their high effectiveness to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, the usefulness of these vaccines is still being debated because of the differences in the geographical distribution of HPV genotypes [10].Vaccines against HPV-16 and -18 have been developed to help the prevention of cervical cancer and the use of Merck's Gardasil (the quadrivalent vaccine for ) and GSK's Cervarix (the bivalent vaccine for HPV-16 and -18) have been licensed by the Korea Food and Drug Administration. Populationbased study for the distribution of HPV genotype is needed to predict how much these vaccines might influence to the prevention of cervical cancer.In the present study, the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes among high-risk women, which are called as commercial sex workers (CSWs) by other countries, were examined to predict whether the developed HPV vaccines are sufficient for preventing HPV infection and the development of premalignant lesions of the cervix in South Korea. A cohort of 2,308 high-risk women visiting for regular sexually transmitted infection testing in public health centers in four different regions (Seoul, Busan, Gwangju and Jeollanamdo) was enrolled in this study. Specimens were collecte...

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Background Several studies on hantavirus evolution have shown that genetic reassortment plays an important role in the evolution and epidemiology of this disease. Hantaan virus, a prototype hantavirus carried by Apodemus agrarius, is found throughout China, Russia, and Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of hantaviruses in rodents in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and perform phylogenetic comparisons using the geographical distribution of their natural reservoir rodent hosts as a point of reference.Methodology To understand the genetic epidemiology of human pathogenic hantaviruses, we examined viral isolates from rodent reservoirs, captured at three different locations in the ROK, between 2017 and 2018. Each sample collected was subjected to reverse-transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-N-PCR) targeting the L- and S-segments of the hantavirus genome. Positive isolates from Gwangju, Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do Province), and Jeju Island were confirmed as Hantaan virus using DNA sequencing.Results Phylogenetic analysis showed that all isolates grouped together as Hantaan virus. The isolates from Jeju, Boseong-gun, and Gwangju tended to cluster together, but with each region forming a distinct cluster. In addition, these three clusters were distinct from other Hantaan isolates reported in previous studies from Korea and its neighboring countries China and Russia. This suggests the emergence of a new hantavirus genotype in southwestern ROK.Conclusion Hantaan viruses exhibit a considerable degree of geographical clustering, and there may be a novel Hantaan genotype in southwestern ROK. This study helps expand our knowledge regarding the emergence of new hantavirus strains and their degree of geographical variation.