The strong (over two logs) synergistic upregulation of galectin-9 by TVV+TV and P. bivia and higher levels of galectin-9 which we observed in TV–HPV co-infections may provide an additional boost to persistence of high-risk HPV genotypes since galectin-9 expression has been significantly correlated with the presence of HPV type 16 or 18 in cervical cancer tissue (Punt et al., 2015). The gene discussed is LGALS9; the disease is cervical carcinoma.