title: Novel HPV-6 variants of human papillomavirus causing recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in southern Africa.
abstract: There is currently no information regarding the genetic diversity of HPV-6 variants circulating in South Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the HPV-6 variants affecting patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, to determine whether mutations correlate with disease severity and identify molecular determinants of virulence with prognostic relevance. HPV-6 variants were identified based on genome changes within the 712-991 bp region encompassing the non-coding region (URR) of the genome, with variations in length resulting from insertions and duplications, and the 453-bp gene encoding the E6 protein. Based on manual comparison of sequence data from the URR, the isolates were identified as HPV-6a and HPV-6vc variants. Three novel HPV-6 variants were identified: one based on a mutation in the E6 region; two based on changes in the URR including a unique substitution detected in three isolates and an insertion and 170-bp duplication in the URR genome in one patient, who had clinical features of severe disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Combrinck
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Seedat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roodt
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Burt
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D052163:Human papillomavirus 6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral