Molecular cloning and characterization of human papilloma virus DNA derived from a laryngeal papilloma.

Papilloma virus DNA from a laryngeal papilloma was cloned in phage lambda L 47 and characterized after cleavage with different restriction enzymes. Hybridization with the DNAs of human papilloma virus types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 showed no homology under stringent hybridization conditions. Human papilloma virus type 6 DNA, however, was partially identical to laryngeal papilloma virus DNA; different restriction enzyme fragments hybridizing with the other DNA were identified on each genome. The degree of homology was determined by reassociation kinetics to be 25%. According to the present nomenclature, laryngeal papilloma virus therefore represents a different type of human papilloma virus and is tentatively designated as human papilloma virus type 11. Sequences homologous to laryngeal papilloma virus DNA were also found in four of nine additional laryngeal papillomas. Attempt to detect homologous DNA in 12 carcinomas of the larynx were negative.