ABSTRACT: The beta and gamma genera of papillomaviruses consist of epidermodysplasia verruciformis-related human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and phylogenetically related cutaneous HPVs. Here, we have developed a consensus primer PCR assay and reverse line blot typing system coupled thereto (referred to as beta and gamma cutaneous HPV PCR [BGC-PCR]) for detection and typing of 24 beta and gamma HPVs (HPV types 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 36, 37, 38, 47, 48, 49, 50, 60, and 65). Because the HPV-specific PCR products are only 72 bp in size, the system is suitable for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens and other samples in which the DNA is of suboptimal quality. This system was able to detect and type as little as 100 ag to 1 fg HPV DNA per reaction (depending on the HPV
