No abstract

We report the isolation and propagation of human papillomavirus type 16, the main agent of cervical cancer, using human foreskin fragments implanted in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. The infection produced viral particles, and with each passage of the virus it caused lesions identical to intraepithelial neoplasia, the precursor to carcinoma.

The temperature sensitivity of human papillomavirus type 11 was evaluated by using a human xenograft severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model. Incubation of the virus for 1 h at a temperature higher than 56°C but lower than 72°C was sufficient to inhibit the virally induced growth of infected human tissue. However, 100°C was necessary to completely inactivate HPV type 11 genome expression.