Human papillomavirus-16 E6 variants in cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions from HIV-negative and HIV-positive women

We studied 48 human papillomavirus (HPV)-16-positive squamous intraepitheli al lesions (SILs) from HIV-negative patients (16 low-grade SILs [LSILs]; 32 high-grade SILs [HSILs]) and 13 HPV-16 E6 coding region was amplified and sequenced in all samples. We detected 12 HPV-16 E6 prototypes and 4 variant s among the LSILs in HIV-negative patients, and 15 HPV-16 E6 prototypes and 17 HPV-16 variants in the HSIL group. The most prevalent variant of SIL ty pes was European 350G, present in 3 and 13 cases, respectively. In 3 HSILs and no LSILs we found mixed infection by an HPV-16 E6 prototype and a varia nt. Two variants (1 each in LSIL and HSIL) were of non-European lineage. Th e only LSIL in HIV-positive patients had an HPV-16 E6 prototype; in the HSI Ls, we found 8 HIV-16 E6-prototypes, 4 with mixed infection with HPV-31 and 4 variants, all European 350G. The higher proportion of HPV-16 E6 variants in HSIL than in LSIL in HIV-negative patients suggests a greater risk of p rogression. However, further studies are needed.