Scientists find HPV16 immune response without adjuvant

A process involving the use of mass spectrometry has identified a recombinant HPV16 E7 protein which provides tumour protection.

In a study published by the Journal of Translational Medicine, scientists looked to further explore the HPV16 E7 protein, as it has shown properties that make it an ideal target for developing therapeutic vaccines.

The creation of a vaccine would provide treatment for cancers, and related lesions, associated with HPV16.

HPV types 16, 18, 31 and 45 are considered to be high-risk, as they are responsible for cervical and genital cancers.

As part of the study, mice immunised with E7 were challenged with TC-1 tumour cells and then monitored for two months.

It found that, in a particulate form, HPV16 E7 is able to induce, without any additional medication, an E-7 tumour protection in mice that is sustained by both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.

The authors of the study said that the findings represent a cost-effective way to produce HPV subunit vaccines.