Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction

IntroductionCervical cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female reproductive tract. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been strongly associated with cervical cancer. Previous bioinformatics studies have examined the E6 and E7 proteins of high-risk HPV types; however, subty...

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Main Authors: Qixue Cai, Yifan Feng, Wenbo Dong, Yanling Meng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1561572/full
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author Qixue Cai
Yifan Feng
Wenbo Dong
Yanling Meng
author_facet Qixue Cai
Yifan Feng
Wenbo Dong
Yanling Meng
author_sort Qixue Cai
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionCervical cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female reproductive tract. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been strongly associated with cervical cancer. Previous bioinformatics studies have examined the E6 and E7 proteins of high-risk HPV types; however, subtype-specific analyses for HPV-31 and HPV-52 remain limited. Understanding the structure and properties of the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV-31 and HPV-52 is crucial to elucidating their functions and advancing vaccine development.MethodsA bioinformatics approach was employed to predict the physicochemical properties, hydrophilicity, protein structure, glycosylation sites, phosphorylation sites, terminal positions, signal peptide cleavage sites, transmembrane regions, homology, and dominant epitopes of the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV-31 and HPV-52.ResultsFor HPV-31 E6, an instability index (II) of 43.93 indicated that the protein is unstable; potential B-cell epitopes were identified at residues 55–61 (RDDTPYG), 112–116 (PEEKQ), and 125–131 (FHNIGGR), while T-cell epitopes were predicted at residues 45–53 (FAFTDLTIV) and 72–80 (KVSEFRWYR). HPV-52 E6 exhibited an instability index (II) of 55.57, with B-cell epitopes at residues 110–119 (LCPEEKERHV) and 129–141 (MGRWTGRCSECWR), and T-cell epitopes at residues 45–53 (FLFTDLRIV) and 82–87 (SLYGKT). HPV-31 E7, with an instability index (II) of 51.05, exhibited B-cell epitopes at residues 8–17 (QDYYLDLQP), 16–20 (QPEAT), 29–41 (PDSSDEEDVIDEP), and 42–48 (AGQAKPDT), and T-cell epitopes at residues 7–15 (TLQDYVLDL) and 82–90 (LLMGSFGIV). HPV-52 E7, with an instability index (II) of 49.15, exhibited B-cell epitopes at residues 11–19 (YILDLQPET), 23–27 (HCYEQ), 29–38 (GDSSDEEDTD), and 36–48 (DTDGVDRPDGQAE), and T-cell epitopes at residues 53–59 (NYYIVTY) and 84–90 (MLLGTLQ).DiscussionIn summary, the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV-31 and HPV-52 contain dominant epitopes for both T cells and B cells. These findings delineate subtype-specific immunogenic regions and establish a foundation for experimental validation and vaccine design.
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spelling doaj-art-10a8631cbafe4ae897f3009348b04bcb2025-08-20T02:47:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-07-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15615721561572Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope predictionQixue Cai0Yifan Feng1Wenbo Dong2Yanling Meng3Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, ChinaDepartment of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, ChinaThe First Clinical College, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, ChinaDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, ChinaIntroductionCervical cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm of the female reproductive tract. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) has been strongly associated with cervical cancer. Previous bioinformatics studies have examined the E6 and E7 proteins of high-risk HPV types; however, subtype-specific analyses for HPV-31 and HPV-52 remain limited. Understanding the structure and properties of the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV-31 and HPV-52 is crucial to elucidating their functions and advancing vaccine development.MethodsA bioinformatics approach was employed to predict the physicochemical properties, hydrophilicity, protein structure, glycosylation sites, phosphorylation sites, terminal positions, signal peptide cleavage sites, transmembrane regions, homology, and dominant epitopes of the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV-31 and HPV-52.ResultsFor HPV-31 E6, an instability index (II) of 43.93 indicated that the protein is unstable; potential B-cell epitopes were identified at residues 55–61 (RDDTPYG), 112–116 (PEEKQ), and 125–131 (FHNIGGR), while T-cell epitopes were predicted at residues 45–53 (FAFTDLTIV) and 72–80 (KVSEFRWYR). HPV-52 E6 exhibited an instability index (II) of 55.57, with B-cell epitopes at residues 110–119 (LCPEEKERHV) and 129–141 (MGRWTGRCSECWR), and T-cell epitopes at residues 45–53 (FLFTDLRIV) and 82–87 (SLYGKT). HPV-31 E7, with an instability index (II) of 51.05, exhibited B-cell epitopes at residues 8–17 (QDYYLDLQP), 16–20 (QPEAT), 29–41 (PDSSDEEDVIDEP), and 42–48 (AGQAKPDT), and T-cell epitopes at residues 7–15 (TLQDYVLDL) and 82–90 (LLMGSFGIV). HPV-52 E7, with an instability index (II) of 49.15, exhibited B-cell epitopes at residues 11–19 (YILDLQPET), 23–27 (HCYEQ), 29–38 (GDSSDEEDTD), and 36–48 (DTDGVDRPDGQAE), and T-cell epitopes at residues 53–59 (NYYIVTY) and 84–90 (MLLGTLQ).DiscussionIn summary, the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV-31 and HPV-52 contain dominant epitopes for both T cells and B cells. These findings delineate subtype-specific immunogenic regions and establish a foundation for experimental validation and vaccine design.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1561572/fullE6/E7human papillomavirus 31human papillomavirus 52bioanalysisantigen epitopeoncoprotein
spellingShingle Qixue Cai
Yifan Feng
Wenbo Dong
Yanling Meng
Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
Frontiers in Immunology
E6/E7
human papillomavirus 31
human papillomavirus 52
bioanalysis
antigen epitope
oncoprotein
title Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
title_full Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
title_fullStr Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
title_full_unstemmed Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
title_short Integrating bioinformatics to explore HPV-31 and HPV-52 E6/E7 proteins: from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
title_sort integrating bioinformatics to explore hpv 31 and hpv 52 e6 e7 proteins from structural analysis to antigenic epitope prediction
topic E6/E7
human papillomavirus 31
human papillomavirus 52
bioanalysis
antigen epitope
oncoprotein
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1561572/full
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