Figure 1

Impact of L2 C22A and C28A point mutations upon vaginal infection of mice by HPV16 pseudovirions. Mice (5/group) were treated with Depo-provera 4 days prior to challenge and then microtrauma was produced in the vaginal epithelium using a cytobrush [14]. The mice were then challenged intra-vaginally with equivalent doses, as determined by L1 concentration, of HPV16 pseudovirions containing a luciferase reporter plasmid and wild type L2 or single C22A or C28A point mutations, in a carboxymethylcellulose gel [2]. Three days post-challenge, luciferin was introduced into the vaginal vault and as a surrogate of infection the production of light by luciferase was visualized using a Xenogen IVIS 200 instrument.