Mutation Profiles, Glycosylation Site Distribution and Codon Usage Bias of Human Papillomavirus Type 16

• Main Authors: Wei Liu, Junhua Li, Hongli Du, Zhihua Ou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Viruses
• Subjects: HPV16; lineage and sublineage; mutation; glycosylation; codon usage bias
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/7/1281

Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is the most prevalent HPV type causing cervical cancers. Herein, using 1597 full genomes, we systemically investigated the mutation profiles, surface protein glycosylation sites and the codon usage bias (CUB) of HPV16 from different lineages and sublineages. Multiple lineage- or sublineage-conserved mutation sites were identified. Glycosylation analysis showed that HPV16 lineage D contained the highest number of different glycosylation sites from lineage A in both L1 and L2 capsid proteins, which might lead to their antigenic distances between the two lineages. CUB analysis showed that the HPV16 open reading frames (ORFs) preferred codons ending with A/T. The CUB of HPV16 ORFs was mainly affected by natural selection except for E1, E5 and L2. HPV16 only shared some of the preferred codons with humans, which might help reduce competition in translational resources. These findings increase our understanding of the heterogeneity between HPV16 lineages and sublineages, and the adaptation mechanism of HPV in human cells. In summary, this study might facilitate HPV classification and improve vaccine development and application.