Molecular cloning and characterization of human papillomavirus type 7 DNA

Human papillomavirus type 7 (HPV-7) was first described in 1981 but so far could not be molecularly cloned. It has been found almost exclusively in hand warts of butchers. We have cloned the complete genome in pBR 322, established its physical map, demonstrated the colinear genome organization with HPV-18 and analyzed the degree of homology with other HPV types and bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types. In order to investigate whether HPV-7 might be a so far unidentified bovine virus, we screened 37 bovine tumor DNAs using Southern blot analysis for its presence, with exclusively negative results. From our data we conclude that the HPV-7 genome shows all characteristics of a papillomavirus genome and that its origin is most likely human.