SELF-ASSEMBLY OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16 CAPSIDS BY EXPRESSION OF THE L1 PROTEIN IN INSECT CELLS

The L1 major protein of human papillomavirus type 16 was expressed in Sf-21 insect cells with a recombinant baculovirus vector. Virus-like p articles similar in appearance to empty virions were identified by ele ctron microscopy at densities of 1.29-1.30. Purified particles reacted with monoclonal anti-HPV-16-L1 antibody in Western blot and immune do t blot suggesting that conformational epitopes are present in the reco mbinant particles. Immunodot blot assays using human sera correlated w ith the detection of HPV-16 DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. The results suggest that HPV-16-L1 virions produced by the baculovirus sys tem might be useful for developing serologic tests to measure antibodi es to conformational epitopes and may offer potential for vaccine deve lopment.