title: Construction and characterisation of a recombinant fowlpox virus that expresses the human papilloma virus L1 protein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papilloma virus (HPV)-16 is the most prevalent high-risk mucosal genotype. Virus-like-particle (VLP)-based immunogens developed recently have proven to be successful as prophylactic HPV vaccines, but are still too expensive for developing countries. Although vaccinia viruses expressing the HPV-16 L1 protein (HPV-L1) have been studied, fowlpox-based recombinants represent efficient and safer vectors for immunocompromised hosts due to their ability to elicit a complete immune response and their natural host-range restriction to avian species.
  
  
  METHODS
  A new fowlpox virus recombinant encoding HPV-L1 (FPL1) was engineered and evaluated for the correct expression of HPV-L1 in vitro, using RT-PCR, immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and real-time PCR assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FPL1 recombinant correctly expresses HPV-L1 in mammalian cells, which are non-permissive for the replication of this vector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This FPL1 recombinant represents an appropriate immunogen for expression of HPV-L1 in human cells. The final aim is to develop a safe, immunogenic, and less expensive prophylactic vaccine against HPV.
authors: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy. antonia.radaelli@unimi.it.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Zanotto
authors: Eleana
authors: E
authors: Pozzi
authors: Sole
authors: S
authors: Pacchioni
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Bissa
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: De Giuli Morghen
authors: Antonia
authors: A
authors: Radaelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005587:Fowlpox virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008322:Mammals; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; C114580:HPV L1 protein, Human papillomavirus; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins