Abstract: Objective To study the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E7, the chimeric HPV16 E7 L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) were constructed, produced, purified and identified. Methods The HPV16E7 gene was cut to three parts, amplified by PCR, and connected individually with BPVL1 on plasmid PUC. With PVL1393 as a transfect vector, the BPVL1/HPV16E7 recombinants were transfected to baculovirus which subsequently expressed the chimeric BPVL1/HPV16E7 protein in the SF-9 cells. The recombinant proteins were then purified by centrifuge, sonication, sucrose and CsCl ultracentrifuge, and were identified by SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ECL and TEM. Results and Conclusion The chimeric BPVL1/HPV16E7 recombinants were constructed, expressed and purified successfully, and they were also identified as VLPs which were similar to the wild type HPV particles in terms of their biological and structural characteristics. Our results had laid the foundation of further study of the vaccine of HPV16E7.

Key words: Papillomavirus, human, Virus-like particles