Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Antigen

The Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 antigen is a viral oncoprotein encoded by the E7 gene of HPV16, a high-risk human papillomavirus strongly associated with malignant genital cancers, particularly cervical cancer. The E7 protein is expressed in dysplastic and transformed epithelial cells during persistent HPV infection. It drives entry of quiescent host cells into the cell cycle, stimulates progression from G1 to S phase, and induces disassembly of the E2F1 transcription factor from retinoblastoma protein (RB1). E7 is consistently expressed in HPV-transformed cells but not in normal tissues making it an ideal target for immunotherapeutic strategies against HPV-associated malignancies such as cervical carcinoma.