Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis colloquially known as treeman disease is one of the rarest genetic disease. *its images seems to be horrifying however it isa non contagious disease means that it does not spread simply by touching the person which have it. This disease cannot be cured however it can be removed surgically but it grows again.

1. Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis
By: Ashish Kumar

2. INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
WORK
(BIOLOGY)

3. *ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

4. *
CERTIFICATE

5. CONTENTS

6. *Scientific Description
*Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis, or EV, (colloquially known as
tree man illness) is a rare skin disorder that exposes patients to
the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cutaneous squamous cell
carcinomas. The disease is linked to chronic infection of HPV.
Skin eruptions of flat-to-papillomatous, wartlike lesions and
reddish-brown pigmented plaques on the trunk, the hands, the
upper and lower extremities, and the face. Malignant skin
tumors (carcinomas), usually squamous cell carcinoma, develop
on the patient with this disease.
*This disease causes warts and horns to
form on the hands, feet, and face.
They form due to exposure to the
human papillomavirus.(HPV)

7. *Symptoms
*Thick visible warts all over the body
as well as on the inside of the skin.
*Flattened warty skin lesions.
*The skin becomes thick and
hardened and as old skin dies new
skin is created.
*Increased vulnerability to human
papillomaviruses of the skin.
*The hands and feet, the
extremities, are enlarged and it is
difficult to use them.
*Skin looks like tree bark or
tree roots, hence the name Tree-
Man Disease.

8. *Causes
*Doctors have linked genetics to Epidermodysplasia
Verruciformis. Although this disease is rare, doctors say the
person inherits the disease from their parents or it “runs” in
the family. Another major cause of this disease is a horrible
immune system. This disease is found in countries that don’t
have the best of medical care.
*Is It Contagious?
*It is important to understand that though images are quite
shocking, but the disease is not contagious. Doctors check
these people and their warts without an issue, and they have
already confirmed that no one can get infected just by
touching the person who has it.

9. Mutation is the process by which an organism’s DNA sequence is altered. In the
case of the sufferers of Tree Man Syndrome, mutation occurs in their EVER1 and
EVER2 genes on chromosome 17 which are responsible for regulating the
circulation of Zinc in the nucleus of cells. These genes prevent the entree of
viral proteins to cellular zinc stores resulting to their restricted growth. These
zinc stores are needed for the body’s immune system to function properly.
Hence, those affected by the ailment lack the ability to protect themselves from
certain bacteria or viruses which, in the case of tree man syndrome, are Human
Papillomavirus

10. *Cure for EV
*There is no cure for Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis however
the warts can be surgically removed, but they do grow back.
*Try chemotherapy and other drugs prescribed by a doctor
*one case was treated with a combination of acitretin and
interferon alfa-2a.
*Direct radiation therapy to control the growth has led to
cancer in one patient.
*Scientists and doctors such as Dr. Anthony Gaspari, an
American dermatologist from the University of Maryland, are
currently studying three cases of Tree-Man Disease in the hope
of finding a genetic link that will lead to a cure of this disease.

11. *Worst Case Scenario
*The worst case scenario
for EV is that you are
not able to use your
hands or feet.
Depending on how bad
the case is the hands
and feet can become
very heavy and
uncomfortable due to
the warts. In Treeman’s
case, he will need two
surgeries every year to
keep them from growing
big again.
Before Surgery After Surgery

12. *FACTS
*It is one of the rarest genetic disease on earth.
*This disease can be linked to the mapping of chromosome 17.
*EV is usually diagnosed when the patient is between the
ages of 1 and 20.
*EV is more commonly found in countries with little medical
treatment available.
*This disease is not contagious means that this disease do not
spread simply by touching.
*It can be caused by a common sexually transmitted wart virus
infection.

13. *
*http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1131981-
overview
*http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/medical/epidermodyspl
asia_verruciformis.htm
*http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11464195
*Information was also pulled from the documentary
Tree-man: Search for the Cure that I found on youtube