The inventors have treated human patients for warts by intralesional injection of Candida antigen to induce a delayed-type hypersensitivity response in the patients. This creates an immune response that recognizes the antigens of the human papilloma virus (HPV) found in and causing the warts. It was found that the patients showed a response to HPV type 57 L1 peptide 380-412 (a peptide consisting of amino acid residues 380-412 of the protein L1) and HPV type 57 protein E4 (E4 10-30). One embodiment of the invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a polypeptide comprising (a) L1 380-412 (SEQ ID NO:3) or a fragment of at least 8 residues of SEQ ID NO:3 or (b) E4 10-30 (SEQ ID NO:4) or a fragment of at least 8 residues of E4 10-30 (SEQ ID NO:4), wherein the composition is immunogenic in humans.
