Phylogeny and Classification of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)16 and HPV18 Variants Based on E6 and L1 genes in Tunisian Women with Cervical Lesions

Jendoubi-Ferchichi, Mouna; Satouri, Latifa; Ghoul, Fatma; Malek-Mellouli, Monia; Derbal, Abdel Moneem; Makni, Mohamed Kamel; Reziga, Hedi; Baba, Ali; Zili, Mohamed; Segondy, Michel; Khelifa, Ridha

doi:10.31557/APJCP.2018.19.12.3361

Phylogeny and Classification of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)16 and HPV18 Variants Based on E6 and L1 genes in Tunisian Women with Cervical Lesions

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

¹ Viral and Molecular Tumor Diagnostics Unit, Laboratory Services, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.

² Faculty of Sciences, University of Carthage, Jarzouna, 7021 Bizerte, Tunisia.

³ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, La Rabta Maternity and Neonatology Center, Tunis, Tunisia.

⁴ Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, Kheireddine Pacha Avenue, Tunis, Tunisia.

⁵ Gynecology and Obstetrics office, 25 Habib Bourguiba Avenue, Tunis, Tunisia.

⁶ Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, INSERM, University of Montpellier, EFS, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.

10.31557/APJCP.2018.19.12.3361

Abstract

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types are the main etiological factors for cervical cancer.
HPV16 and HPV18 are generally the most common forms associated with development of high-grade cervical lesions.
This study was undertaken to identify intratypic variants of HPV16 and HPV18 among women with cervical lesions
in Tunisia. Materials and Methods: DNA was extracted from cervical samples collected from 49 women. using a
PureLinkTM Genomic DNA mini Kit (Invitrogen). E6 and L1 open reading frames (ORF) were amplified by PCR
and viral DNA amplicons were subjected to automated sequencing using Big Dye Terminators technology (Applied
Biosystems). The obtained sequences were analyzed using an appropriate software program to allow phylogenetic
trees to be generated. Results: HPV16 and HPV18 were detected in 15 and 5 cases, respectively. HPV16 E6 sequences
clustered with the European German lineage (A2) whereas one isolate diverged differently in the L1 region and
clustered with the African sub-lineage (B1). HPV 18 E6 sequences clustered with the European sub-lineage (A1)
but L1 sequences clustered as a new clade which diverged from A1-A5. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the
distribution of HPV16 and HPV18 sequences in women with cervical lesions in Tunisia is mainly related to European
epidemiological conditions and point to the presence of recombinant HPV forms.

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