# Expression of vaccinia recombinant HPV 16 L1 and L2 ORF proteins in epithelial cells is sufficient for assembly of HPV virion-like particles

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-zhou-hpv16-virus-like-particles-virology-1991/  
OnCo record `paper-zhou-hpv16-virus-like-particles-virology-1991` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The Brisbane experiment in which Jian Zhou and Ian Frazer made empty shells of the HPV16 virus in cells. Virus-like particles of this kind are what HPV vaccines are made of.

## Summary

Working at the Lions Human Immunology Laboratory at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Jian Zhou, Ian Frazer and colleagues designed a recombinant vaccinia virus, pLC201VV, to express the two late (capsid) genes of HPV type 16, L1 and L2, together in epithelial cells. Cells making both proteins produced 40-nanometre virus-like particles with a density of 1.31 g/ml in their nuclei, while cells making either protein alone did not. Partly purified particles were made of capsomeres resembling those of HPV and contained glycosylated L1 capsid protein. The authors noted that particles made this way could be a safe source of material for developing a vaccine.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-11-03
- Journal: Virology
- Year: 1991
- DOI: 10.1016/0042-6822(91)90772-4
- Authors: Zhou J, Sun XY, Stenzel DJ, Frazer IH
- Findings: Co-expression of HPV16 L1 and L2 in epithelial cells produced 40 nm virus-like particles in the nucleus; neither protein alone did.; The particles had a density of 1.31 g/ml, consisted of HPV-like capsomeres and contained glycosylated L1.
- What it means: Virus-like particles carry the shape of the virus without its DNA, so they can train the immune system without any risk of infection. That principle, worked on in parallel in the United States, is the basis of the HPV vaccines now given to adolescents in Australia's school programme.
- Caveats: This paper made particles from L1 and L2 together in a vaccinia system; the licensed vaccines use particles made from L1 alone, and several laboratories contributed to that step.

## Sources

- Virology 1991: https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6822(91)90772-4
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1656586/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Cervical cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/cervical/)
- fronts: [Prevention & Risk](https://onco.cc/fronts/prevention/)
- technologies: [HPV & HBV vaccination](https://onco.cc/technologies/hpv-vaccine/)
- drugs: [Nonavalent HPV vaccine](https://onco.cc/drugs/gardasil-9/)
- institutions: [The University of Queensland Frazer Institute](https://onco.cc/institutions/uq-frazer-institute/)
- people: [Ian Frazer](https://onco.cc/people/ian-frazer/), [Jian Zhou](https://onco.cc/people/jian-zhou/)

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