Anti-HPV16 L1 (Conformation-specific)

Papillomaviruses are highly species-specific and can cause squamous epithelial and fibroepithelial tumors in their hosts. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with benign and malignant hyperproliferation of cells, with a wide variety of clinical manifestations ranging from condyloma acuminata to cervical carcinoma. HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease. More than 4 HPV types so far identified are known to infect the genital tract. Genital HPVs are divided into `low risk' HPVs such as HPV 6 and 11 and 'high risk' HPV types such as 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45 and 52, 58 which are responsible for more than 95% of HPV-induced cervical cancer. Vaccination against these high risk types seems to be the most feasible prevention for cervical cancer. Indeed, clinical trials have shown prophylactic HPV vaccines to be effective against HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and genital warts, but protection is type-specific and the currently developed vaccines target only a few types. These vaccines are based on papillomavirus-like particles (VLPs) composed of the major capsid protein, L1. The L1 protein self assembles into VLPs when expressed at high levels in eukaryotic or insect cells. VLPs are composed of 36 copies of L1 protein organized into 72 pentamers, so called capsomeres, to form particles which are immunologically indistinguishable from native virions. Experimentally induced VLP antisera have been shown to be mostly typespecific with respect to neutralization. Minor cross-neutralization has been observed only between closely related HPV types, e.g. HPV6 and 11, HPV18 and 45, or HPV16 and 31. Structure analysis has revealed the presence of several hyper variable loops on the outer surface of the capsid. With a few exceptions, all HPV-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies analyzed so far are type-specific and recognize conformational epitopes within surface-exposed hyper variable loops of the major capsid protein L1. Protein function: Forms an icosahedral capsid with a T=7 symmetry and a 50 nm diameter. The capsid is composed of 72 pentamers linked to each other by disulfide bonds and associated with L2 proteins. Binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cell surface of basal layer keratinocytes to provide initial virion attachment. This binding mediates a conformational change in the virus capsid that facilitates efficient infection. The virion enters the host cell via endocytosis. During virus trafficking, L1 protein dissociates from the viral DNA and the genomic DNA is released to the host nucleus. The virion assembly takes place within the cell nucleus. Encapsulates the genomic DNA together with protein L2. [The UniProt Consortium]