Antigenic and immunogenic epitopes shared by human papillomavirus type 16 and bovine, canine, and avian papillomaviruses

Abstract

All types of papillomaviruses (PV) share common, so-called group-specific epitopes. To identify the major group-specific epitopes, we immunized 26 guinea pigs or rabbits with purified bovine PV type 1 (BPV), canine PV, or avian PV from the common chaffinch. The resulting hyperimmune sera, as well as a commercially available rabbit antiserum to BPV and seven monoclonal antibodies to BPV, were tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a set of 66 overlapping 20-amino-acid peptides representing the complete sequence of the major capsid proteins (Li and L2) of human PV type 16 (HPV 16). Sera from the same animals before immunization were used as controls. The minimal reactive epitopes within each peptide were further characterized by testing of truncated peptides. The cross-reactive epitopes were clustered in two regions of Li, an internal region (at positions 171 to 235), which contained three epitopes, and the more reactive region at the carboxy terminus (at positions 411 to 475), which contained six epitopes. The most reactive of the HPV 16 broadly cross-reactive epitopes was a carboxy-terminal epitope which had the sequence DTYRF and which reacted with nine of the antisera to BPV, canine PV, or avian PV, with the commercially available rabbit antiserum to BPV, and also with a mouse monoclonal antibody to BPV. Antipeptide antisera to all of the HPV 16 Li peptides and to the most antigenically reactive of their truncated analogs were made in guinea pigs. Antipeptide antisera reactive with BPV were obtained for three of the cross-reactive epitopes, and one of these antisera allowed highly sensitive detection of group-specific PV antigen by immunoperoxidase staining.

Strategies for global control of cervical cancer

“…Studies using proteins produced in vitro or oligopeptides corresponding to regions of the PV coding region indicate that a large proportion of the population is exposed to PVs (Jenison et al, 1990;Jochmus-Kudielka et al, 1989). Although some of the antigens used are apparently broadly crossreactive among PVs (Dillner et al, 1991), several studies indicate that immune responses to certain HPV proteins are more commonly detected in patients with cancer than in normal controls (Dillner, 1990;Jenison et al, 1990;Jochmus-Kudielka et al, 1989;Miiller et al, 1992). Improvements in developing more type-restricted serological assays have found seropositivity for genital HPV types in a majority of patients with cervical cancer or dysplasia.…”

Molecular and serological studies of human papillomavirus among patients with anal epidermoid carcinoma

“…An antibody to bovine PV capsids (Dako, Copenhagen, Denmark) and a rabbit antipeptide antiserum, broadly reactive with the PV capsid antigen (Dillner et al, 1991), were used to stain sections of formalin-fuced, paraffin-embedded biopsies by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, as described (Dillner et al, 1991).…”

“…A polyclonal antiserum against bovine PV (Dako, Denmark) and a monospecific, broadly reactive PV capsid antiserum (Dillner et al, 1991) were tested with the specimens in immunohistocytochemistry. Only one specimen was positive for the PV capsid antigen in benign, koilocytotic cells adjacent to the cancer cells.…”

mRNA Instability Elements in the Human Papillomavirus Type 16 L2 Coding Region

“…Protein A-Sepharose (Pharmacia) beads were added, and incubation was continued for 1 h, followed by centrifugation and collection of supernatants. Normal guinea pig serum or guinea pig anti-HPV-16 L2 peptide antiserum (18) was added, and incubation was performed at 4°C for 16 h, followed by the addition of protein A-Sepharose beads and continued incubation for 3 h. The samples were heated, loaded onto 10% polyacrylamide-SDS gels (acrylamide/bisacrylamide ratio, 29:1) under reducing conditions, and electrophoresed at 180 V. The gels were dried and autoradiographed at Ϫ70°C.…”