Human papillomavirus major capsid protein L1 (HPV L1) (HPV L1)

The Human papillomavirus major capsid protein L1 is the primary structural component of the HPV virion, responsible for forming the outer shell that protects the viral genome (UniProt, 2024). In pharmaceutical development, recombinant L1 proteins are engineered to spontaneously self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs) that morphologically and antigenically resemble the native virus but lack infectious genetic material (National Cancer Institute, 2023). These VLPs serve as the active antigens in prophylactic vaccines such as Gardasil and Cervarix. When administered, they stimulate the human immune system to produce high titers of neutralizing antibodies specifically targeting the L1 protein (StatPearls, 2023). These antibodies effectively block the virus from binding to and entering basal epithelial cells, thereby preventing persistent HPV infections that can lead to cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, as well as genital warts (CDC, 2021). The vaccine's efficacy is largely attributed to the robust induction of long-lived memory B cells against the L1 antigen (PubMed, 2022).

Other names

L1 proteinHPV L1 virus-like particleHPV VLPMajor capsid protein L1

Induction of a humoral immune response and production of neutralizing antibodies that bind to the L1 protein on the viral surface, preventing viral attachment and entry into host epithelial cells.