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We isolated two new manatee papillomavirus (PV) types, TmPV3 and TmPV4, from a Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Two PV types were previously isolated from this species. TmPV1 is widely dispersed amongst manatees and a close-to-root PV; not much is known about TmPV2. The genomes of TmPV3 and TmPV4 were 7622 and 7771 bp in size, respectively. Both PVs had a genomic organization characteristic of all PVs, with one non-coding region and seven ORFs, including the E7 ORF that is absent in other cetacean PVs. Although these PVs were isolated from separate genital lesions of the same manatee, an enlarged E2/E4 ORF was found only in the TmPV4 genome. The full genome and L1 sequence similarities between TmPV3 and TmPV4 were 63.2 and 70.3 %, respectively. These genomes shared only 49.1 and 50.2 % similarity with TmPV1. The pairwise alignment of L1 nucleotide sequences indicated that the two new PVs nested in a monophyletic group of the genus Rhopapillomavirus, together with the cutaneotropic TmPV1 and TmPV2.

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are a group of small, non-enveloped DNA viruses that cause mucosal or cutaneous neoplasia in a variety of animals. Whilst most papillomas will regress spontaneously, some may persist or undergo malignant transformation. In this study, aggressive, persistent and extensive warts were observed on the hands and feet of a cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The presence of PV in the wart biopsies was identified by immunohistochemistry and PCR amplification of PV DNA. The genomic DNA of this PV was cloned and sequenced, and the PV was designated M. fascicularis papillomavirus type 1 (MfPV-1). Its genome was 7588 bp in length and the organization of its putative open reading frames (E1, E2, E6, E7, L1, L2 and E4) was similar to that of other PVs. MfPV-1 had a short non-coding region (NCR) of 412 bp. Molecular analysis of MfPV-1 genomic DNA classified it into the genus Betapapillomavirus, to which all epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)-type PVs belong. Diseases caused by PVs of the genus Betapapillomavirus are usually associated with natural or iatrogenic immunosuppression. The genomic characterization performed in this study showed that MfPV-1 clustered within the genus Betapapillomavirus and also contained EV-type-specific motifs in its NCR. Further characterization of this virus and its host interactions may allow us to develop a non-human primate model for human betapapillomaviruses, a genus populated by human PV types causing EV.

SUMMARY A broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibody directed against papillomavirus, coupled to immunoaffinity columns, was used to isolate bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) and human papillomavirus type 1 (HPV-1) structural polypeptides from homogenates of productively infected cells. One of the polypeptides isolated from bovine fibropapillomas appeared to be the BPV-1 major capsid protein since it had a mol. wt. of 54K and was reactive by Western blots with papillomavirus genus- and BPV-1 type-specific rabbit antibodies as well as monoclonal antibodies cross-reactive with BPV-1/BPV-2 and BPV-1/deer PV. A polypeptide from human plantar warts similarly appeared to be the major capsid component since it also had a mass of 54K to 55K and reacted with papillomavirus genus- and HPV type-specific rabbit antibodies. By using this technique structural viral polypeptides from papillomavirus-induced lesions containing readily detectable viral structural antigens but relatively few virus particles, such as seen with mucosotropic HPVs can now be isolated for mapping of virus-specific epitopes.

Four hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) L2 open reading frame (ORF) gene products have been established from mice immunized with a BPV-1 L2-beta-galactosidase fusion protein. Hybridomas were selected and cloned (from over 700 hybridomas) on the basis of specific reactivity of supernatant fluids with BPV-1 L2 epitopes on disrupted BPV-1 particles and L2-beta-galactosidase fusion proteins by ELISA and Western blotting, and with acetone-fixed frozen sections of BPV-1-induced fibropapillomas by immunofluorescence. These MAbs were not reactive with intact BPV-1 particles or BPV-1 L1-beta-galactosidase fusion proteins by ELISA or with beta-galactosidase by ELISA and Western blotting. The four MAbs detected viral structural proteins of Mr 76K, 68K and possibly 55K in purified BPV-1 preparations by Western blotting. Two of the four MAbs were cross-reactive with BPV-2-induced fibropapillomas. These findings suggest that (i) the BPV-1 L2 ORF encodes the minor capsid protein(s), (ii) the gene products of the BPV-1 L2 ORF have Mr values of 76K, 68K and possibly 55K, (iii) minor capsid epitopes are internal to the BPV-1 particle, and (iv) MAbs reactive with genetically engineered truncated BPV-1 L2 ORF gene products can distinguish between BPV-1 and BPV-2 productive infections.