Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025

08:16
Comparative Lesions Analysis Through a Targeted Sequencing Approach
Published on: November 5, 2019
6.7K
Changes in intrahost genetic diversity according to lesion severity in longitudinal HPV16 samples
Jean-Marc Costanzi1,2, Milan S Stosic1,3, Alexander H Løvestad1,3,4
1Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
Journal of Medical Virology
|May 6, 2024
Summary
Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) genomic variation shows fewer intrahost single nucleotide variants (iSNVs) in high-grade cervical lesions. This finding may help develop biomarkers for early cervical cancer risk stratification.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Oncology
- Genomics
Background:
- Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is a primary cause of cervical cancer.
- Most HPV16 infections are transient, and progression to cancer is not inevitable.
- Current biomarkers for early cervical cancer risk stratification are insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate HPV16 genomic variation within individuals over time.
- To correlate HPV16 intrahost variation with cervical lesion severity (normal, low-grade, high-grade).
- To explore potential novel biomarkers for early cervical cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal sampling from 40 HPV16-infected women with varying lesion severities.
- TaME-seq deep sequencing protocol for whole-genome HPV16 sequencing (102 samples).
- Identification and analysis of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and intrahost SNVs (iSNVs).
Main Results:
- Most individuals harbored unique and temporally stable sets of HPV16 SNVs.
- Significantly lower numbers of iSNVs and APOBEC3-induced iSNVs were found in high-grade lesions compared to normal and low-grade lesions.
- Normal samples showed a significant increase in APOBEC3-induced iSNVs over time, unlike high-grade samples.
Conclusions:
- The reduced incidence of iSNVs, particularly APOBEC3-induced variants, in high-grade cervical lesions is a key finding.
- These genomic variations may serve as potential biomarkers for early stratification of HPV-induced cervical precancerous lesions.
- Further research into HPV16 genomic variation could enhance early detection and management strategies for cervical cancer.

