ABSTRACT

In this study, we have examined intratype human papillomavirus (HPV) sequence variation in a worldwide collection of cervical specimens. Twelve different HPV types including HPV-18, HPV-33, HPV-35, HPV-39, HPV-45, HPV-51, HPV-52, HPV-58, HPV-59, HPV-68 (ME180), MM9/PAP238A (recently designated HPV-73), and a novel partial genomic HPV sequence designated MM4/W13B were analyzed in this study. Cervical specimens were collected as part of epidemiological investigations conducted in New Mexico and an international study of invasive cervical cancer (IBSCC). Specimens from several countries including Argentina,

We have previously examined 29 cervical cell isolates for human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) sequence variations in the E6, L2 and L1 coding regions, and the long control region (LCR). Twenty-five of these isolates as well as 23 additional isolates are characterized here as we present the complete E5 coding segment and the E2 hinge region. Eight amino acid variations were observed in the E5 coding segment, 13 were identified in the E2 hinge region and 5 were observed in the overlapping E4 coding segment. These amino acid variations may be relevant to differences in biological functions and may result in altered humoral or cell-mediated immune responses to HPV-16 variants. The characterization of sequence variation within high-risk HPV types might be important in the search for epidemiological correlates of cervical cancer risk. This work complements and extends HPV-16 genome sequence information from specific isolates previously reported by our group.To date, more than 70 different types of human papillomavirus (HPV) genome have been identified (de Villiers, 1994). Certain HPV types have been classified as high-risk due to their association with anogenital cancers, mainly cervical cancer. DNA from these HPVs, predominantly HPV-16 and -18, is found in approximately 93 % of invasive cervical cancer cases worldwide (Bosch et al., 1995). The characterization of sequence variation within high-risk HPV types represents a rational approach to identifying naturally occurring variants which may exhibit altered biological functions. The E2, E4 and E5 PV proteins are important to several virus functions including transcription and replication, interaction with the cytoskeletal network, and immortalization (Doorbar et al., 1991 ;Ham et al., 1991 ;McBride et al., 1991 ;Pim et al., 1992 ;Roberts et al., 1993Roberts et al., , 1997McBride & Myers, 1996).HPV intratypic variation has been most extensively studied for HPV-16 (Chan et al., 1992 ; Eschle et al., 1992 ;Icenogle et al., 1992 ;Bavin et al., 1993 ;Ho et al., 1993 ;Pushko et al., 1994 ; Smits et al., 1994 ;Yamada et al., 1995Yamada et al., , 1997Ku et al., 1997 ;Terry et al., 1997 ;Tornesello et al., 1997). Within HPV-16, five major phylogenetic branches have been distinguished, each predominating within specific geographical regions (Ho et al., 1991(Ho et al., , 1993Yamada et al., 1995Yamada et al., , 1997. These main HPV-16 branches were designated E (European), As (Asian), AA (AsianAmerican), Af1 (African-1) and Af2 (African-2). Additional minor phylogenetic branches have been identified and designated NA1 (North American 1), E-G131 and AA-G183\AA-c (Yamada et al., 1995(Yamada et al., , 1997.In the study of Yamada et al. (1995), HPV-16 nucleotide sequence variations in E6 (nt 104-559), parts of the L2 (nt 4272-5657) and L1 (nt 5665-7148) ORFs, and the LCR (nt 7479-7842) were established in 29 selected United States isolates. In order to extend this study, we examined the sequence variation within the complete E5 coding segment (nt 3850-4101) and the E2 hinge reg...

Chlamydia pneumoniae was detected at a significantly higher frequency in the wall of IAAAs than in the wall of NIAAs. Although this finding does not prove that C. pneumoniae causes IAAAs, further studies on the possible role of C. pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of aneurysms should be performed.