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Background The first HPV vaccines licensed targeted two HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers. A 9-valent vaccine (9vHPV), targeting 5 additional types, was introduced in 2016 and is currently the only HPV vaccine available in the United States. Previous studies demonstrated high rates of HPV infection in Alaska Native (AN) women. We sought to measure prevalence of high risk HPV types in AN women undergoing colposcopy and to determine those preventable by vaccination. Methods For this cross-sectional study, we recruited women who were undergoing colposcopy for clinical indications at Alaska Native Medical Center to obtain cervical brush biopsy samples. Specimens were shipped to Atlanta, Georgia for DNA extraction, HPV detection, and typing using L1 PCR with type-specific hybridization to detect 37 HPV types. Results Four hundred eighty eight specimens from 489 women were tested. At least one HPV type was found in 458 (94%) specimens. Of 458 participants who were HPV positive, 332 (72%) had two or more types. At least one type targeted by 9vHPV was detected in 95% of participants with CIN 3 (21/22), 82% with CIN 2 (37/45), and 65% with CIN 1 (119/184). (p p Conclusions A substantial proportion of AN women attending colposcopy clinic had evidence of HPV 16/18 infection, as well as other high risk types targeted by 9vHPV. At least one 9vHPV type was detected in 62% of the participants overall, and 95% of participants with CIN3. AN women are expected to benefit from vaccination against HPV 16/18, and will have greater benefit from 9vHPV. Information from this study could be used to develop public health strategies to increase vaccine uptake, or to track HPV genotype prevalence over time.

Two human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are available to prevent cervical cancer. One early measure of HPV vaccine impact would be a reduction in vaccine-related HPV types (HPV 6, 11, 16, or 18, or HPV 16, 18) in cervical samples from young women. We aimed to assess feasibility of specimen collection and baseline HPV prevalence in an integrated healthcare delivery system. Residual cervical specimens collected during routine cervical cancer screening (2006–2008) were retained consecutively from eligible females aged 11–29 years, stratified by age group. Specimens were evaluated for 37 HPV genotypes using the Roche Linear Array assay. Of 10,124 specimens submitted, 10,103 (99 %) were adequate for HPV testing. Prevalence of HPV 6, 11, 16, or 18 genotype was 11.4 % overall and was the highest in the youngest age group (18.1 % in the 11–19-year-olds, 12.5 % in the 20–24-year-olds, and 7.0 % in the 25–29-year-olds). HPV types 6, 11, 16, or 18 prevalence could be measured over time to assess early HPV vaccine impact using residual specimens from an integrated healthcare delivery system, particularly if sampling focused on young women.

Since the first report of wheat transformation in the early 1990s, genetic engineering of wheat has evolved rapidly. Several laboratories worldwide have reported the production of fertile transgenic wheat plants using a variety of methods. While there are several innovative and promising approaches for wheat transformation using different explants as targets for transformation, different methods of transformation, and different selection schemes, the most common approach to wheat transformation is the bombardment of tissue derived from immature embryos followed by selection based on resistance to the bar gene. Even with all these successful reports, hurdles still exist for this recalcitrant crop. Of these hurdles, low transformation rates, tools for transgene expression, and transgene silencing in subsequent generations are probably the most critical. This review will provide an overview of wheat transformation in the past decade, addressing both positive and negative factors that effect transformation while highlighting the successes of the past and prospects for the future.