A genus of DNA-containing viruses including the papilloma and wart viruses of humans and other animals. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus from the papillomavirus family that is capable of infecting humans. Like all papillomaviruses, HPVs establish productive infections only in keratinocytes of the skin or mucous membranes.. Genital Human Papillomavirus infection is primarily transmitted by genital contact, usually (but not necessarily) through sexual intercourse.