Mutations in HPV16 L1 hypervariable surface-exposed loops affect L2 binding and DNA encapsidation.

Summary, in English

Prophylactic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) based on Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) induce type-specific neutralizing antibodies against a small number of hypervariable residues positioned in surface-exposed loops of the major capsid protein L1. To investigate the importance of these residues for neutralization, cross-neutralization, L2 incorporation and genome encapsidation, ten surface-exposed amino acid residues in 4 hypervariable loops of L1 were mutated. VLPs containing mutated or wild type L1, with or without wild type L2, were produced in 293TT cells using pseudovirion expression vectors. The mutations reduced the ability to induce neutralizing antibodies and to incorporate the L2 protein in the capsid. Ability to induce cross-neutralizing antibodies and to encapsidate pseudogenomes were completely abrogated. In summary, the surface-exposed L1 loops are important for the function of the HPV particle.

• Author: Helena Faust; Joakim Dillner
• Department/s: Clinical Microbiology, Malmö; BioCARE: Biomarkers in Cancer Medicine improving Health Care, Education and Innovation
• Publishing year: 2013
• Language: English
• Pages: 1841-1849
• Publication/Series: Journal of General Virology
• Volume: 94
• Issue: May,8
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23658208?dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.054205-0
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Microbiology Society
• Topic: Microbiology in the medical area
• Status: Published
• Research group: Clinical Microbiology, Malmö
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1465-2099