Detection of HPV-2 and identification of novel mutations by whole genome sequencing from biopsies of two patients with multiple cutaneous horns.
BACKGROUND
Human papillomavirus-2 (HPV-2) is generally associated with common warts. The association of cutaneous horns with HPV-2 infection has never been reported.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the papillomavirus (PV) type(s) involved in cutaneous horns and analysis the genomes of these viruses.


METHODS
We screened biopsies from two patients with multiple cutaneous horns using PV type-specific PCR assays, and sequenced the whole genomes of the viruses by a PCR-by-PCR strategy. Sequence comparison with the reference genome and its closely related PVs in the same phylogenetic group was performed to identify sequence variation across the genome(s) of newly detected PV(s).


RESULTS
Two strains of HPV-2 were identified from the biopsies of two patients respectively. No double or multiple infections were detected. Novel mutations were found in the HPV-2 genome, located both in the coding and non-coding regions. Amino acid changes occurred only in E1 and E7 ORFs. The two strains also shared several mutations at the same positions.


CONCLUSIONS
Each patient was infected with a single strain of HPV-2 that developed unique mutations; HPV-2 may play a role in the onset and development of cutaneous horns; amino acid changes in functionally significant viral proteins may confer differential pathogenic risks.
Wang
Wei
W
Beijing Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101300, China.
Wang
Chen
C
Xu
Shuqing
S
Chen
Chen
C
Tong
Xiaomei
X
Liang
Yu
Y
Dong
Xiaoping
X
Lei
Yanjun
Y
Zheng
Xiaoguang
X
Yu
Jun
J
Wang
Jian
J
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000821:virology; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment