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. 2009 Jun 9;4(6):e5847.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005847.

Adsorption of human papillomavirus 16 to live human sperm

Julio Pérez-Andino  1 , Christopher B Buck, Katharina Ribbeck
Affiliations

Adsorption of human papillomavirus 16 to live human sperm

Julio Pérez-Andino et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a diverse group of viruses that infect the skin and mucosal tissues of humans. A high-risk subgroup of HPVs is associated with virtually all cases of cervical cancer [1]-[3]. High-risk HPVs are transmitted sexually; however, the exact mechanisms by which sexual contact promotes virus infection remain uncertain. To study this question we asked whether capsids of HPV type 16 (a high-risk HPV) specifically interact with sperm cells. We tested if purified HPV16 virions directly adsorb to live human sperm cells in native semen and in conditions that resemble the female genital tract. We found that HPV16 capsids bind efficiently to two distinct sites at the equatorial region of the sperm head surface. Moreover, we observed that the interaction of virus with sperm can be reduced by two HPV infection inhibitors, heparin and carrageenan. Our findings suggest that 1) sperm cells may serve as motile carriers that promote virus dispersal and mucosal penetration, and 2) blocking interactions between HPV16 and sperm cells may be an important strategy for the development of antiviral therapies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. HPV16 capsids bind to distinct foci at the equatorial region of live sperm.
Freshly ejaculated sperm cells were washed and subjected to purified Alexa488 labeled HPV16 capsids or Alexa488 maltose binding protein (MBP), which was used as a control. The protein-sperm reaction was incubated at 37°C for 10 min and subsequently analyzed by live confocal microscopy. The capsids accumulated specifically at two foci, one located on each side of the sperm head along its equator. It is crucial to note that this specific localization was detectable only on live sperm; on sperm with compromised viability, capsids stained a ring surrounding the entire sperm head. In contrast to HPV16 capsids, Alexa488 MBP bound faintly to irregular patches on sperm head and tail. Scale bar, 2 µm.
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