Cross-neutralization potential of native human papillomavirus N-terminal L2 epitopes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) capsids are composed of 72 pentamers of the major capsid protein L1, and an unknown number of L2 minor capsid proteins. An N-terminal "external loop" of L2 contains cross-neutralizing epitopes, and native HPV16 virions extracted from 20-day-old organotypic tissues are neutralized by anti-HPV16 L2 antibodies but virus from 10-day-old cultures are not, suggesting that L2 epitopes are more exposed in mature, 20-day virions. This current study was undertaken to determine whether cross-neutralization of other HPV types is similarly dependent on time of harvest and to screen for the most effective cross-neutralizing epitope in native virions.

Methodology and principal findings

Neutralization assays support that although HPV16 L2 epitopes were

SUBMITTER: Conway MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3035607 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature