Papilloma virus probes and in vitro methods for the diagnosis of papilloma virus infections.

The invention relates to papillomavirus DNAs, and more particularly to probes derived from these papillomaviruses, as well as methods using them for the in vitro diagnosis of papillomavirus infections.

The expression "papillomavirus" covers a large number of viruses having in common to be held responsible for several forms of viral infections spreading between skin warts or relatively benign mucous membranes and hyperplasias likely to degenerate into intra- neoplasias. epithelial and skin cancer. Among papillomavirus infections, mention will also be made more particularly of wart-shaped epidermodysplasia, which will sometimes be referred to below as "EV".

A number of types of papillomavirus have already been described. In the context of the present patent application, numerous new types and subtypes of papillomavirus will be described which have been isolated from warts or disseminated macular lesions, which may give rise to the early development of skin cancers in important proportions of patients affected.

Recent studies have revealed the importance of immune factors and the major role of various types of human papillomavirus (HPV), these factors adding to the role already described in the literature of various genetic factors and actinic radiation in the pa - r. thogenesis of papillomavirus infections.

The invention follows from observations which have been made as to the relative behaviors of a large number of newly isolated papillomaviruses, the essential genomic characteristics of which will be defined below.

The study of a small number of EV cases had already led to the characterization of six types of HPV after molecular cloning of their genomes (KREMSDORF, D. et al, 1982, J. Virol. 12: 436-447 and KREMSDORF et al, 1983, J. Virol. 48: 340-351). These HPVs were divided into three groups based on the absence of cross hybridization or very weak cross hybridization between genomes belonging to different groups. The first group included HPV3a and 10 which are associated with the flat warts seen in some EV patients and in the general population; DNA sequences related to those of HPV3a have been found in cancer of patients with EV. The second group included HPV5, 8 and 12, the genomes of HPV5 and 8 having been detected in cancers of patients with EV. The third group to date consists of a single virus, HPV9. With the exception of a recipient of a renal allograft with immunosuppression, who had been found to be infected with HPV5, the viruses of the last two groups had only been detected in patients with EV, most of them being infected by several viruses. It should be noted that among the 14 types of HPV currently mentioned in the literature (bibliographic references 1-5, 8.9, 13, 14, 16, 18-20 indicated below), four were found to be associated specifically with EV which is a rare disease.

The work which led to the invention and which made it possible to isolate a large number of new types and subtypes of papillomavirus now makes it possible to envisage more refined in vitro diagnostic techniques. More particularly, the invention provides improved techniques for the identification of papillomaviruses, for example obtained from lesions or biopsy sections and makes it possible to make more precise diagnoses, which may also result in improved prognoses as to the possible evolution. of the lesions involved.

In general, it will be noted that the papillomaviruses, although very different from one another, have sizes of the order of 7000-8000 base pairs. In addition, their genomes may nevertheless have certain degrees of homology. In what follows, reference will be made to evaluations of the percentages of homologies between types and subtypes of papillomavirus, these percentages of homologies resulting from hybridization tests carried out under so-called non-stringent or non-strict conditions or even in stringent or strict hybridization conditions.

Among the papillomaviruses, there are several types of papillomavirus, these are distinguished by their percentages of homologies measured under strict or stringent conditions. It will be said that the papillomaviruses which, under these latter conditions, have percentages of homology of less than 50% belong to different types. It will be noted in this regard that the percentages of homology between viruses of different types can even drop to zero under said strict or stringent conditions. Viruses for which we observe, under these strict or stringent conditions, percentages of homology greater than 50% are considered to belong to the same type and form different subtypes within this same type.

Hybridization tests under non-strict or non-stringent conditions involve the mutual contact of DNAs originating from two virus isolates under the following conditions described by HEILMAN CA et al, 1980, J. Virol., 36, 395- 407, and CROISSANT et al, 1982, CR Acad. Sc. Paris, 294, 581-586 (heteroduplex molecules).

Hybridization tests under strict or stringent conditions involve the mutual contacting of DNAs originating from two virus isolates under the conditions described by KREMSDORF, D. et al. ((1982), J. Virol. 43: 436-447 and 1983, J. Virol. 48: 340-351) and DAVIS RW et al., 1971, Methods Enzymol., 21. 413-428 (heteroduplex molecules).

Schematically, it will be noted that the papillomaviruses belonging to the same type present hybridizable sequences having substantially identical nucleotide sequences over 80 to 100% of their respective lengths, these homologous sequences can be reduced to 60%, or even less in papillomaviruses of different types. The degree of identity or of analogy of the sequences of papillomaviruses of different types which hybridize mutually under non-strict or non-stringent conditions, can obviously be lower than in the case of papillomavirus belonging to the same type.

The study carried out by the inventors has shown both that the degree of genetic heterogeneity between papillomaviruses of various types was greater than what was appreciated before and at the same time that the different types were often associated with forms. or variants of infections with some degree of specificity.

The invention therefore relates not only to DNAs capable of being isolated from the various new papillomaviruses which have been isolated and to the probes which may consist of all or part of these DNAs, but also to mixtures or "cocktails" of types. papillomaviruses which can be used more effectively for the diagnosis of various categories of infection, or even the risk levels that accompany the discovery in a patient of certain papillomaviruses. The number of papillomavirus probes described in the present application, to which are added, where appropriate, those formed from genomic papillomavirus DNAs already isolated previously and their associations in determined mixtures, would therefore allow more refined diagnoses to be made, in particular greater discrimination of the various categories of infections attributable to the various types of papillomavirus or likely to develop under the effect of these latter types and, within a category of specific infections, to better predict the degree of risk that the latter turn into more formidable diseases. For example, the object of the invention is to provide means which, in the case of infections manifested by epidermodysplasia verruciformis, allow a better appreciation of the degree of risk that these latter evolve towards skin cancers.

In general, and with the aim of simplifying the presentation which follows, the whole genomes of papillomaviruses will be designated by the abbreviation "DNA-HPV".

For the same purpose of simplification, reference is made in the following to the drawings, in which the figures consist of physical restriction maps of DNA-HPVs, among which moreover DNA-HPVs of papillomavirus already known.

The physical maps give the position of sites of cleavage by various restriction endonucleases. The origin of the cards is generally formed by a single clipping site. Distances to origin are expressed as a percentage of genome length. One map unit represents 1% of genome length.

The invention firstly relates more specifically to each of the DNA-HPVs chosen from all of the DNAs which have sizes which range between 7000 and 8000 base pairs and are characterized by the restriction maps which appear in the drawings. as regards more particularly the DNA-HPVs obtained from papillomaviruses and which correspond to the designations. HPV-2d, HPV-10b, HPV-14a, HPV-14b, HPV-15, HPV-17a, HPV-17b, HPV-19, HPV-20, HPV-21, HPV-22, HPV-23, HPV- 24, HPV-28, HPV-29, HPV-31 and HPV-32, HPV-IP2 and HPV-IP4.

It goes without saying that the invention also extends its effects to DNA-HPVs which can be considered to belong to the same types as those which have just been mentioned.

The physical maps corresponding to the DNA-HPVs of the newly characterized viruses are indicated by a black circle.

The invention also relates to fragments of _DNA Previous HPVs or capable of hybridizing with them, in particular under strict conditions. Likewise, it relates to the recombinant DNAs containing all or part of each of the DNA-HPVs mentioned above, and more particularly to the recombinant DNAs containing fragments corresponding to the genes E1, E6-E7, L1 and L2 respectively or else fragments containing sequences corresponding to the intergenic regions of said DNA-HPVs. Finally, it relates to the probes which can be formed from these respective DNA-HPVs or from the corresponding fragments and the in vitro diagnostic methods involving said probes.

The viral DNA preparations were selectively extracted (LUTZNER, MA et al., 1983, Lancet ii: 422-424) from scraping products of benign lesions of six European patients with EV and two patients from South Americans with EV. The HPV DNAs were purified by equilibrium centrifugation in cesium chloride gradients and / or sedimentation in sucrose gradients in the presence of ethidium bromide, according to the procedures described above (articles by KREMSDORF, D. and al. already described and ORTH, G. et al., 1980, Cold Spring Harbor Conf. Cell Proliferation 7: 259-282). The DNA preparations were treated with restriction endonucleases and the digestion products were separated by electrophoresis on agarose gels (articles from KREMSDORF et al. Already mentioned). In addition to HPV5, 8 and 12 (articles by KREMSDORF et al. Already mentioned) and HPV2 (HEILMAN, CA et al., 1980, J. Virol. 36: 395-407 and ORTH, G. et al. , 1980, Cold Spring Harbor Conf. Cell Proliferation 7: 259-282) found in the common warts of one of the patients, eleven strains were identified providing major models of cleavage by DNA restriction enzymes, different from those of the types previously characterized. New types of HPV have been given a number and subtypes of a type have been given the same number followed by a letter, in chronological order of their identification (COGGIN, JR et al., Cancer Res. 39 : 545-546). The genomes of the 11 new HPVs were cloned into Escherichia coli K12, strain C600 (article by KREMSDORF, D. et al. (1983) already mentioned). The DNAs were inserted in the form of unit length molecules with the exception of two DNA fragments from HPV24 produced by the endonuclease BamHI. They were inserted either into the plasmid pBR322 (SUTCLIFFE, JG, 1978, Nucleic Acids Res. 5: 2721-2728), using the unique cleavage sites of AvaI, BamHI and HindIII, either in a recombinant plasmid having integrated the HindIII B fragment of the DNA of HPV5 (article by KREMSDORF, D. et al. ., 1982, already mentioned), which contains a single SacI site. More particularly, HPV17b and 22 were inserted in the form of DNA molecules of unit length after cleavage with an enzyme (SacI) which only cleaves HPV DNA and the recombinant plasmid pBR322 containing the HindIII B fragment once HPV5 DNA. HPV14a DNA was inserted into plasmid pBR322 as a unit length DNA molecule after incomplete digestion of the viral DNA preparation with HindIII, an enzyme that produces two fragments of 96.1 and 3 , 9% of the length of the genome. The BamHI A and B fragments of HPV24 (having sizes corresponding respectively to 83.1 and 16.9% of the length of the genome) were inserted separately into the plasmid pBR322.

The isolated clones and the sources of the corresponding HPVs result from Table I below:<tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0001.tif" /></tables>

To identify the recombinant plasmids, the electrophoretic mobilities of the digests of the recombinant DNAs and of the uncloned HPV DNAs were compared after treatment with a mixture of two restriction endonucleases comprising the endonuclease used for the insertion of the viral sequences into the plasmid. The number and size of the isolated fragments indicated that in each case the whole viral genomes were integrated. A heterogeneity in the sizes of the DNAs was observed when the DNAs of the HPVs, not cloned or excised from the plasmid sequences, were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis (data not shown). The DNAs of HPV14b, 19, 20 and 21 have sizes similar to those of HPV3a, 5, 8 and 12 (approximately 7700 pairs of nucleotides (articles by KREMSDORF, D. already mentioned), while the DNAs of HPV15, 17a, 17b, 22 and 23 have smaller sizes similar to that of HPV9 (approximately 7200 nucleotide pairs) (articles by KREMSDORF, D., 1982) and ORTH, G., 1980, already mentioned).

The sensitivity of the cloned viral genomes to 14 restriction endonucleases was analyzed and the physical maps were established (Figures 1 to 10). The restriction maps of some of the DNA-HPVs are repeated in some of the figures for the reasons explained below. Between 22 and 33 cleavage sites have been located acco rding to the methods previously described (9). No obvious analogy was detected between these cards, with the exception of those of HPV14a and 14b, on the one hand (figs.4a and 4b) and between those of HPV17a and 17b, on the other hand (Figure 5). Among the 21 and 31 sites located respectively on the DNAs of HPV14a and 14b, 15 were found to be common when one of the two BamHI cleavage sites of the HPV14a DNA was aligned with the unique BamHI cleavage site of HPV14b DNA. Similarly, 21 of the 29 cleavage sites located on HPV17a DNA were also found on HPV17b DNA (with 26 sites), when the unique BamHI cleavage sites were aligned.

No obvious analogy was detected between these cards and those previously established for HPV associated with EV (HPV3a, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12) (8,9, 16, 18, 20), to warts skin (HPV1, 2, 4 and 7), and mucocutaneous or mucous membrane lesions (HPV6b, 11a, 13 and 16) (1, 33, 19), with the exception of the closely related HPV14a map à la carte of an HPV isolated from a Japanese patient with EV (24). This latter isolate differs from HPV14a by an additional BamHI site and a HindII site, while the locations of the Downstream, BamHI, BglI, EcoRI, HindII and HindIII sites are similar in the two viruses. Cross-hybridization experiments have confirmed that these two viruses are very closely related.

It will also be noted that some sites (those indicated by the arrows) have not been located. Cleavage sites differing by less than 2% of the length of the genome by their location are considered to be preserved (^*). The non-cleavage enzymes were PvuI, Sal I and SmaI for the DNAs of HPV14a and 23; PvuI, SacI, SalI and SmaI for HPV14b DNA; BglI, PvuI, SalI and SmaI for the DNAs of HPV15, 17a and 17b; BglI, SacI, SalI and SmaI for HPV19 DNA; EcoRI, PvuI, SacI and SmaI for HPV20 DNA; Bag I and SmaI for HPV21 DNA; BamHI, BglI, PvuI, PvuII and SalI for HPV22 DNA; BglI, EcoRI, PvuI, SacI, SalI and SmaI for HPV24 DNA.

The existence of sequence homologies between the DNAs of the newly characterized HPV DNAs as well as between these and the previously characterized EV HPV DNAs (HPV3a, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12) of HPV associated with skin warts (HPV1, 2, 4 and 7), and HPV associated with lesions of the mucous membranes (HPV6b, 11a, 13 and 16) has been studied. Hybridization experiments by fixation on a filter paper and DNA-DNA hybridization in liquid phase at saturation followed by digestion with nuclease S1 were carried out under strict or stringent conditions previously described (8, 9). In particular, the HPV DNAs were labeled by nick-translation and fractionated by sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients (5 to 20%) as previously described (13). The labeled HPV DNAs (4000 cpm) were incubated in 0.48 M NaCl 1 mM EDTA (pH 6.8) at 68 ° C., in the presence of either calf thymus DNA (20 μg), either of unlabelled HPV DNA (0.20 pg) as previously described (8, 9). The specific activities of HPV DNA probes varied between 5.3 x 10⁷ and 2 x 10⁸ cpm / pg. The percentage of hybridization was determined by measuring the fractions resistant to nuclease S1. The numbers represent the values ​​corrected for the spontaneous self-renaturation of the probes (4 to 15%) and normalized to 100% for the homologous hybridization (75 to 95%). The abbreviation ND means: not determined. The relative importance of the cross-hybridizations between the DNA-HPV under the conditions indicated above are expressed in% of hybridization between a labeled HPV DNA and an unlabelled HPV DNA.<tables id="tabl0002" num="0002"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0002.tif" /></tables>

The absence or virtual absence of cross-hybridization between the genomes of HPV1, 2, 4, 6b, 7 and 11a and of newly cloned EV HPV DNAs marked with ³²P or between unlabelled EV HPV DNAs and specific probes for HPV13, 16 and 18. Similarly, no cross-hybridization has been detected or detected between DNAs from HPV14a, 14b, 15 , 17a, 17b, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 and the DNAs of HPV1a and 11a by reassociation to saturation (Table 2). Newly cloned HPV DNAs showed little or no cross-hybridization or showed less than 50% cross-hybridization with each other and with the genomes of other HPV-associated EVs (HPV3a, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12), with the exception of HPV14a and 14b, on the one hand, and HPV17a and 17b, on the other hand, which exhibited strong cross-hybridization. These observations justify the classification of the new viruses into nine new types (HPV14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24) plus two subtypes of types 14 (HPV14a and b) and 17 (HPV17a and b ).

Similarly, the various HPVs have been classified into groups, on the basis of their sequence homologies (or absence of homologies) under strict conditions of molecular hybridization. These groups, designated by the letters A to H, are listed in Table III below. This table lists the diseases which have been diagnosed in the carriers of these HPVs (isolated or in combination between them) and the oncogenic potentials which have been recognized for them.<tables id="tabl0003" num="0003"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0003.tif" /></tables>

The DNAs of HPV5, 8, 12, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 show between them rates of cross-hybridization (group homologies) varying from 5 to 38%, and do not show a significant cross-hybridization (4 at 13%) than with the DNAs of HPV5, 8 and 12. These viruses therefore form part of a group of EV HPV previously defined (9).

Similarly, the DNAs of HPV9, 15 and 17 which exhibit between them a cross hybridization of approximately 20% and a cross hybridization of approximately 6% with the DNA of HPV9, also belong to a group of HPV of EV already described (9). HPVs types 13 and 31 can be considered to belong to the same group. Finally, the HPVs of types 1, 2, 4, 24 and 32 which show almost no homology with the genomes of the other HPVs are considered to form the first members of other groups distinct from each other and from the preceding groups.

The invention relates more particularly to DNA fragments, derived from the DNA-HPVs described above, and more particularly those corresponding respectively to the E6-E7 genes; E1; L2; L1 and their intergenic regions. The positions and relative lengths of these various fragments, with respect to the sites taken as origins (FIGS. 1 to 9) are indicated in Table IV which follows.<tables id="tabl0004" num="0004"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0004.tif" /></tables>

The localization of genes on the HPV1 genome has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of this genome (Patent O. Danos, M. Katinka and M. Yaniv). The physical maps of the genomes of HPV3, 5, 8 ,, 9, 10a, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 24 were aligned with respect to the physical map and the genetic map of HPV1, and that of HPV31, with respect to to the physical and genetic maps of HPV6b (E. Schwarz et al, EMBO J., 1983, 2, 2341-2348), after analysis with an electron microscope of heteroduplex molecules formed under strict conditions (Tm -29_.C) or less strict (Tm -40'C) hybridization. The physical maps of HPV10b, 28 and 29 were aligned with respect to the physical maps of HPV3a and 10a after juxtaposition of the conserved restriction enzyme sites.

The values ​​of the coordinates given in Table IV indicate the position, on the physical maps presented in figs. 1-9, the 5 ′ and 3 ′ ends of the segments of the genomes homologous to the E6 and E7, E1, L2 and L1 genes and of the intergenic region relative to the genome of HPV1a or, in the case of HPV31, relative to the genome of HPV6b.

The intergenic region (comprising regulatory elements) and the adjacent genes E6 and E7 (presumably corresponding to the major transformation genes expressed in tumors) do not exhibit any sequence homology detectable by electron microscopic analysis of heteroduplex molecules formed, in non-strict hybridization conditions, between genomes of HPV types belonging to different groups, or formed, under strict hybridization conditions, between the genomes of most types of HPV belonging to the same group. The E1 gene (mainly involved in the replication of viral DNA) and the L1 gene (coding for the major protein of the viral capsid carrying the main antigenic determinants of virions) show sequence homologies detectable by analysis of heteroduplex formed, under non-strict hybridization conditions, between genomes of HPV types belonging to different groups or formed, under strict hybridization conditions, between genomes of HPV belonging to the same group.

Probes prepared from recombinant plasmids comprising the E1 and L1 regions can theoretically make it possible to detect the greatest number of types of HPV by molecular hybridization experiments carried out, as the case may be, under strict or non-strict conditions. Probes prepared from recombinant plasmids comprising the intergenic region and the E6 and E7 genes make it possible to specifically detect a type of HPV or related types of HPV.

The L2 region (coding for a minor constituent of the viral capsid) exhibits a variable degree of conservation of nucleotide sequences among the different types of HPV.

In what follows, the conditions under which the HPV-IP2 and HPV-IP4 viruses were isolated are further described in more detail, then the conditions under which the DNA-HPVs were obtained from these viruses.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a new type of HPV associated with neoplasias and genital cancers (HPV IP2).

A new type of HPV has been demonstrated in DNA extracted from cervical cancer, by hybridization, under non-strict conditions, with a radioactive probe specific for HPV type 16. No cross-hybridization n was detectable when the hybridization was carried out under strict hybridization conditions. A study of the sensitivity of the DNA of this HPV to several restriction enzymes has shown that the enzyme BglII cuts the viral DNA once. After digestion of the DNA extracted from the tumor by the endonuclease BglII, the fraction containing DNA molecules of 8 kb (size of a papillomavirus genome) were purified by centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. The 8 kb molecules were inserted, via the BglII site, into a vector consisting of the plasmid PL15.5 (containing a single site for cleavage by BglII and by BamHI) inserted by its BamHI site, into the DNA of the bacteriophage lambda L47. 1. After packaging of the recombinant DNA and infection of host bacteria (Escherichia coli, strain LA101), the lysis plaques corresponding to recombinant phages were detected by hybridization of replicates of the infected bacterial cultures, with a radioactive HPV16 DNA, in non-strict conditions. Several recombinant bacteriophages, containing all of the viral sequences, have been isolated: cleavage of phage DNA by the insertion enzyme BglII generates an 8 kb fragment hybridizing with the HPV16 probe under non-strict conditions; cutting the DNA of the recombinant phages and the DNA of the original tumor by mixing the enzymes BglII and PstI generates the same 5 fragments in the sum of the molecular weights is equal to the size of a papillomavirus genome. The DNA of the new HPV was excised from the DNA of the recombinant bacteriophages, purified by electroelution, and recloned in the plasmid PL15.5. A restriction map of viral DNA was established from the sensitivity of this DNA to 18 restriction endonucleases, which made it possible to locate 21 cleavage sites (FIG. 9). The map thus established is different from the genome map of the HPVs identified to date. The sequence homology between the DNA of the new HPV and the DNA of the HPVs identified to date has been analyzed by replica molecular hybridization experiments carried out under strict conditions. The homology detected was always less than 5%, the greatest homology being detected with the genome of HPV16. The new virus characterized from cervical cancer therefore constitutes a new type of HPV, provisionally known as HPVIP2.

The analysis, using an electron microscope, of heteroduplex molecules formed, under different conditions, between the DNA of HPVIP2 and the DNA of HPV1 made it possible to align the physical maps of these 2 genomes and to define the theoretical position of the different genes carried by the HPVIP2 DNA.

PUTATIVE LOCATION OF THE MAIN GENES AND THE INTRAGENIC REGION OF HPV-IP2 ON THE MAP OF THIS GENOME

<tables id="tabl0005" num="0005"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0005.tif" /></tables>

The use of radioactive probes prepared from the purified HPVIP2 DNA made it possible to determine the pathogenic power of these viruses. The DNA of HPVIP2 was revealed in one case of bowenoid papules of the external genital organs on the 14 studied, in 2 invasive cervical cancers on the 51 studied and in 1 case of intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix. of the 28 studied. HPVIP2 therefore constitutes a type of HPV with genital tropism having an oncogenic potential, the frequency of which is slightly lower than that of HPV18, and much lower than that of HPV16. It is necessary to incorporate it into any mixture of HPV DNA intended for the preparation of molecular probes, for the diagnosis or screening of the types of HPV constituting a risk for the development of genital neoplasias and, in particular, cervical cancer.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a new type of HPV associated with precancerous skin lesions (HPV IP4).

A new type of HPV has been demonstrated in DNA extracted from a biopsy of actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin lesion, by molecular hybridization, under strict conditions, with a mixture with radioactive probes specific for HPV type 5 , 8 and 14. No cross hybridization was detected when the hybridization was carried out specific probes of the types 1,2,3,7,10,13,16,18,28, IP1 (previously called HPV31), IP2, and IP3 (previously called HPV32).

A study of the DNA sensitivity of this HPV to several restriction enzymes has shown that the EcoRI enzyme cuts once the viral DNA. After digestion of the DNA extracted from the biopsy with the EcoRI endonuclease, the fraction containing DNA molecules of 8 kb (size of a papillomavirus genome) was purified by centrifugation in a sucrose gradient. The 8kb molecules were inserted, through the EcoRI site, into the DNA of the Agt wes bacteriophage. AB. After packaging of the recombinant DNA and infection of host bacteria (Escherichia coli, strain LA101), the lysis plaques corresponding to recombinant phages were detected by hybridization of replicates of the infected bacterial cultures, with a radioactive mixture of the DNA of HPVs, 8, and 14, under non-strict conditions. Several recombinant bacteriophages, containing all the viral sequences have been isolated: the cleavage of phage DNA by the insertion enzyme EcoRI generates an 8kb fragment hybridizing with the specific probe of HPV5,8 and 14 under non-strict conditions ; cutting the DNA of recombinant phages and the DNA of the original lesion by mixing the enzymes EcoRI and PstI generates the same 6 fragments whose sum of molecular weights is equal to the size of a papillomavirus genome . The DNA of the new HPV was excised from the DNA of a recombinant bacteriophage, purified by electroelution, and recloned in the plasmid pSP65. A restriction map of the viral DNA was established from the sensitivity of this DNA to 15 restriction endonucleases, which made it possible to locate 23 cleavage sites (FIG. 10). The map thus established is different from the map of the HPV genomes identified to date. The sequence homology between the DNA of the new HPV and the DNA of the HPVs identified to date has been analyzed by replica molecular hybridization experiments carried out under strict conditions. Homology, less than 50%, has been detected between the DNA of the new HPV and the DNA of certain types of HPV previously identified in lesions of epidermodysplasia verruciformis (HPV5,8,12,14, -19,20 , 21 and 25), but no homology was detected with the other types of HPV. The new virus characterized from actinic keratosis therefore constitutes a new type of HPV provisionally called HPV-IP4.

The use of a radioactive probe prepared from the DNA of purified HPVIP4 made it possible to demonstrate HPVIP4 in 42% of the 17 patients with verruciform epidermodysplasia studied and in x on y keratosis biopsies actinic analyzed. Because of its high frequency in patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a disease characterized by the frequent development of skin cancers, and its association with a fraction of lesions of actinic keratosis considered as precursors of squamous cell cancers of the skin, HPVIP4 is a type of skin tropism HPV with oncogenic potential. It is necessary to incorporate it into any mixture of HPV DNA intended for the preparation of molecular probes for the diagnosis or screening of the types of HPV constituting a risk for the development of precancerous or cancerous lesions of the skin.

The invention relates more particularly to mixtures or cocktails of different HPV DNAs (or probes containing these HPV DNAs or sequences thereof), which can be used in combination to carry out global diagnostics of the different forms of papillomavirus infections , possibly for the purpose of predicting the possible course of the infection. Preferred mixtures in accordance with the invention are identified in Table V which follows.<tables id="tabl0006" num="0006"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0006.tif" /></tables>

This table also indicates the natures of the affections likely to be more particularly diagnosed by the use of the mixtures appearing on the left of the table. It will be noted that the groupings of the restriction maps in Figures 1 to 9 attached are in accordance with the groupings which are indicated in the "Constitution" column of Table V. This is also the reason why some of the probes have been reproduced several times in different figures of the attached drawings.

Each of these mixtures can also be defined as comprising at least one of the new probes according to the invention. In other words, the diagnostic compositions according to the invention can be defined as containing:<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>1) at least the DNA of HPV2d,</li><li>2) at least one of the DNAs of HPVlOb, 28 and 29,</li><li>3) at least one of the DNAs of HPV17, 24,</li><li>4) at least one of the DNAs of HPV14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23,</li><li>5) at least one of the DNAs of HPV15 and 17,</li><li>6) the DNA of HPV24,</li><li>7) the DNA of HPV14, 32,</li><li>8) the DNA of HPV31,</li><li>9) the DNA of HPV32,</li></ul>it being understood that the DNAs of the nine groups are chosen so as to be in all circumstances different from each other.

Given the great diversity of HPVs capable of being isolated from the different forms of warts or other skin or mucosal lesions, it is however preferred to use, for the diagnosis of each type of condition mentioned in the table, mixtures comprising more than one or two DNA-HPVs, since other DNA-HPVs have been recognized as being able to also intervene in the development of the same type of affection. The diagnosis of the nature of the infection and its possible evolution will be all the more effective as the number of probes used will be higher. In addition, hybridization tests carried out with different mixtures of probes will allow differential diagnoses having an equally greater degree of probability of the nature of the disease from which the patient suffers.

In Table V, only probes formed from DNA-HPVs isolated in the inventors' laboratory were mentioned. It goes without saying that, because of the above, the various mixtures can advantageously be supplemented with DNAs originating from HPVs obtained in other laboratories, as soon as they have been found on different occasions in patients affected by the same types of infections. For example, mixture 7 can only benefit from being supplemented by all other DNA-HPVSs encountered in verruciform epidermodysplasias at risk of transformation into intraepithelial neoplasias and skin cancers. It will be noted that in Table V, some of the mixtures are presented as characteristics of the same diseases to be diagnosed. It should be noted, however, that the different mixtures distinguish between infections with a low risk of cancerization and infections with a high risk of cancerization. For example, hybridization of a viral preparation from a patient under diagnosis with mixture 7 will show a greater risk of skin cancerization than in the case where hybridization will occur more with mixture 3.

Similarly, the EVs detected by the mixture 5 will show a greater risk of cancerization than the EVs detected by the mixture 6. The mixture 4 will detect EVs at even higher risk than those detected by the mixture 5.

Other mixtures or cocktails of different DNA-HPVs (or probes containing these _DNAs-HPVs or sequences thereof), which can be used in combination to carry out global diagnostics of the different forms of papillomavirus infections, possibly in order to predict the possible course of the infection.

Preferred mixtures in accordance with the invention are identified in Table V above.

The above table also indicates the natures of the conditions likely to be more particularly diagnosed by the use of the mixtures appearing on the left part of the table. It is recalled that the restriction maps of the other DNA-HPVs identified in the table above are contained in Figures 1 to 9.

It should be noted that HPV-IP2 can be considered to be particularly representative of probes which can be used for the detection of the risks of development of genital neoplasias and, in particular, of cancers of the cervix.

The invention therefore more particularly still relates to diagnostic kits or "kits" comprising at least 10 groups appearing in groups numbered from 1 to 10 in the table under the heading "Designation of mixtures".

In the foregoing, we have mainly considered the use, as probes, of cloned whole DNA-HPVs. These can however be substituted by cloned fragments of these different DNAs, in particular by the E1 or L1 genes and by the E6-E7 genes.

The basic principle of in vitro DNA-HPV detections will naturally involve hybridizations carried out under strict or less stringent conditions. One can operate for example as follows, it being understood of course that the diagnostic tests described cannot be considered as limiting the conditions of use of the probes or mixtures of probes according to the invention.

The object of examinations involving probes prepared from mixtures of DNAs of cloned HPVs is to highlight an HPV and to identify the type of HPV in a biopsy, in cells obtained by scraping lesions, or in biopsy sections fixed by the Carnoy mixture (ethanol, chloroform, acetic acid 6: 3: 1) and included in the paraffin. The examination requires the prior extraction of DNA from the samples according to methods of which the principle is known and involves the analysis of this DNA by molecular hybridization experiments, carried out under strict or less strict conditions, to using radioactive probes (marked with 32p or ³⁵S) prepared from mixtures of HPVs DNAs. Each test usually requires the use of more than one probe mix.

Several hybridization methods can be used. One can, for example, implement the hybridization method on spot. This method includes, after denaturing the DNA, depositing an aliquot of DNA on membranes (nitrocellulose or Genescreenplus), hybridizing each membrane, under the usual conditions, with a mixture of probes and detecting radioactive hybrids by exposure of the membranes in contact with an x-ray film. We can also use a replica hybridization method. This method comprises the electrophoretic separation in agarose gel of the DNA fragments generated after treatment of the DNA with restriction enzymes, the transfer of the fragments, after alkaline denaturation, on membranes (nitrocellulose, Genescreenplus) and their hybridization, under the usual conditions, with different mixtures of probes. The formation of radioactive hybrids is detected after exposure of the membranes in contact with an X-ray film.

The radioactive probes consist either of DNAs from HPVs labeled by the "nick-translation" method, or by RNAs prepared by transcription of viral DNAs inserted into a vector, for example of the SP6 type. The use of radioactive probes has the advantage of great sensitivity, but this does not exclude the use of non-radioactive probes, for example biotinylated and capable of being recognized by antibodies either labeled themselves or themselves. same recognized by antibodies carrying an enzymatic, fluorescent marker, etc.

The choice of probes depends on the nature of the samples. Thus, for example, in the case of a patient suspected of having EV, mixtures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be used. Mixtures 1 and 2 will make the differential diagnosis between EV and skin warts. Probe 3, including the most frequently detected member of each of the three groups of HPVs associated with the disease, and probe 7, containing DNAs of the types of HPV associated with EV cancers, will allow the diagnosis of the majority of EV cases and, in particular, to identify patients infected with the types of HPVs presenting a risk for the development of cancers. The use of mixtures 4, 5 and 6 will make it possible to specify the type or types of HPV infecting the same patient.

The invention therefore also relates to kits or "kits" containing a plurality of the above-mentioned probes, in particular:<ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>- or representatives of each of the 19 types and subtypes of DNA-HPVs mentioned above,</li><li>- either mixtures of probes, preferably the various groups or mixtures of probes which have been defined above,</li></ul>these "kits" being intended for in vitro diagnostic studies "by hybridization between viral preparations obtained from patients and the various groups or mixtures.

As goes without saying and as it already follows from the above, the invention is in no way limited to those of its modes of application and embodiments which have been more especially envisaged; on the contrary, it embraces all their variants; in particular the reference in the claims to a DNA-HPV designation followed by a determined number, and to which corresponds a DNA-HPV whose restriction map has been provided in the drawings, is understood to mean that these claims cover all DNA-HPVs which have in common with this particular DNA-HPV can be classified in the same type, according to the definition which was given above, and a fortiori to DNA-HPV belonging to the same subtype.

It is also noted, with regard more particularly to the DNA derived from HPV-32, which appears in the drawings, is not cut by Aval, Ball, BamHI, ClaI, EcoRI, HindIII, NdeI, NruI, PvuI , PvuII, SacI, SalI, SmaI, TthIII, XmaI.

It should be noted that the recombinant DNAs designated below were deposited on November 30, 1984 at the CNCM (National Collection of Cultures of Micro-Organisms of the INSTITUT PASTEUR of Paris), under the numbers appearing below:<tables id="tabl0007" num="0007"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0007.tif" /></tables><tables id="tabl0008" num="0008"><img file="EP0192001A2_D0008.tif" /></tables>

The invention relates more particularly to the expression products of the E6 and E7 genes of the various papillomaviruses which have been mentioned in the foregoing and which can be used as active principles of vaccines capable of inducing, when administered to effective doses, host resistance to the development of papillomavirus-associated neoplasias.

The invention also relates to sera capable of being obtained by immunization of a mammal, sera which can be used for the preparation of sera which can be administered in effective doses to a patient, in particular parenterally, these sera then being capable of causing a regression of papillomavirus-induced infections of corresponding types or subtypes.

There is no need to insist on the capacity of a person skilled in the art to obtain polypeptide expression products of the genus in question, in particular by genetic engineering techniques consisting in incorporating the E6 and / or E7 sequences into a vector under the control of an appropriate promoter, then transforming a cellular host, the papillomaviruses of which are capable of recognizing the promoters in question and of expressing the sequences which are associated with it.

The invention therefore also relates to compositions for pharmaceutical use containing the principles of the genus in question (expression products or corresponding antibodies), in association with a physiologically acceptable pharmaceutical vehicle. In particular, the latter consists of a saturated solution for injection, in the case where the compositions of the genus in question are to be administered parenterally.

Reference is finally made to the articles whose bibliographic references follow, which supplement as necessary the description of the state of the prior art, to the extent that this could prove useful for the complete understanding of the text by the reader. . As such, the content of these articles should therefore be considered as part of the description.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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