title: Differential antibody responses to a distinct region of human papillomavirus minor capsid proteins.
abstract: A peptide derived from the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) minor capsid protein, L2, has previously been reported to induce cross-neutralizing antibodies in mice. In this report, four HPV L2 peptides, including the HPV-16 peptide and its HPV type 6 and 11 homologues, along with extended peptides containing a conserved set of amino acids, were used to immunize rabbits and mice. Antibody responses were evaluated for specificity and ability to neutralize viral infection in vitro with a quantitative reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. All peptide immunizations resulted in cognate and cross-peptide reactivity, but this did not translate equally into recognition of full-length protein, VLP, or neutralization of virus in vitro. This report provides the first evidence of cross-neutralization of authentic HPV by antiserum to L2 peptides. Comparison of the anti-peptide serum reactivity, especially with regard to neutralization of virus, indicates that the extended peptides may offer more potential to induce adequate responses for cross-protective immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, H059, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Monica E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Embers
authors.forename: Lynn R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Budgeon
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pickel
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral