title: Protection against heterologous human papillomavirus challenge by a synthetic lipopeptide vaccine containing a broadly cross-neutralizing epitope of L2.
abstract: Persistent infection with the high-risk subset of genitotropic human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. Given the global burden of cervical cancer, a low-cost, broadly protective vaccine is needed. RG-1 is a cross-neutralizing and protective monoclonal antibody that recognizes residues 17-36 of HPV16 minor capsid protein L2. Because this epitope is highly conserved in divergent HPV types, we determined whether vaccination with HPV16 L2 17-36 peptide is broadly protective. The peptide was administered to BALB/c mice three times at monthly intervals, either alone or in the context of a synthetic lipopeptide vaccine candidate (P25-P2C-HPV) produced by linkage of the HPV peptide with a broadly recognized T helper epitope (P25) and the Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) ligand dipalmitoyl-S-glyceryl cysteine (P2C). In contrast to vaccination with the L2 17-36 peptide or P25-P2C alone, a potent L2-specific antibody response was generated to the P25-P2C-HPV lipopeptide when delivered either s.c. or intranasally. Sera from mice vaccinated with the P25-P2C-HPV lipopeptide neutralized not only HPV16 pseudovirions but also other evolutionarily divergent oncogenic genital (HPV18, HPV45) and cutaneous (HPV5, BPV1) types. The L2-specific antibody response depended on MHC class II, CD40, and MyD88 signaling. Additionally, vaccination with the P25-P2C-HPV lipopeptide protected mice from homologous challenge with HPV16 pseudovirions at cutaneous and genital sites and heterologous challenge with HPV45 pseudovirions. If provided in the appropriate context, therefore, HPV16 L2 17-36 might be used in a totally synthetic cross-protective HPV vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology Oncology Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231.
authors.forename: Hannah H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Alphs
authors.forename: Ratish
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambhira
authors.forename: Balasubramanyam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karanam
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Subhashini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jagu
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Schiller
authors.forename: Weiguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Richard B S
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Roden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; C000715594:CBX5 protein, human; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C063316:L2 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D008074:Lipoproteins; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5