HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-70 GENOME CLONED FROM OVERLAPPING PCR PRODUCTS - COMPLETE NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE AND GENOMIC ORGANIZATION

The genome of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 70 (HPV 70), isolated fr om a cervical condyloma, was obtained by cloning overlapping PCR produ cts. By automated DNA sequence analysis, the genome was found to consi st of 7,905 bp with a G+C content of 40%. The genomic organization sho wed the characteristic features shared by other sequenced HPVs. Nucleo tide sequence comparison with previously known HPV types demonstrated the closest homolog with HPV 68 (82%), HPV 39 (82%), HPV 18 (70%), HPV 45 (70%), and HPV 59 (70%), Comparison with seven other partially seq uenced HPV 70 isolates showed homologies of between 100 and 99.5%, Clo ning of overlapping PCR products and automated DNA sequence analysis w as found to be a feasible method of obtaining full-length sequences of HPVs.