Immunization against bovine papillomavirus infection.

The two large open reading frames denoted L1 and L2 in the non-transforming region of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) genome have been molecularly cloned to expression in Escherichia coli. Antisera against the E. coli-derived L1 and L2 protein reacted with BPV-1 in both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoprecipitation reactions. Neutralization of BPV-induced transformation of mouse C127 cells was demonstrated most consistently with antisera against the L1 protein. E. coli-derived L1 protein protected calves against BPV-1 challenge after vaccination.