Human papillomavirus type 16 DNA in an odontogenic keratocyst

DNA was extracted from an odontogenic keratocyst and assayed for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) type 16 DNA sequences using high stringency Southern blot hybridization. HPV type 16 homologous DNA sequences were detected at a copy number of 50-100 genome copies per diploid cell. The oral HPV DNA was not identical to the prototype HPV 16 when cleaved with the restriction enzyme Pst-I, since it appeared to lack the Pst-I C fragment (L2/L1 ORFs) and contained "off-sized" high molecular weight fragments suggestive of integration events into the host cell chromosome.