Molecular cloning and characterization of a new subtype of human papillomavirus 6 DNA.

A new subtype of human papillomavirus (HPV) 6 was molecularly cloned from a laryngeal papilloma specimen. The DNA of this isolate showed a strong hybridization signal with HPV 6b DNA under stringent conditions. Comparison of restriction enzyme fragment patterns of this HPV DNA with HPV 6b DNA revealed that this DNA is not identical to HPV 6b DNA. Thus, it represents a new subtype of HPV 6 DNA, which we have tentatively designated as HPV 6e DNA. A map of the physical structure of HPV 6e was also established.