Secondary Infections, Expanded Tissue Tropism, and Evidence for Malignant Potential in Immunocompromised Mice Infected with Mus

Papillomavirus disease poses a special challenge to people with compromised immune systems. Appropriate models to study infections in these individuals are lacking. We report here the development of a model that will help to address these deficiencies. TheMmuPV1 genome was synthesized and used successfully to produce virus fromDNA infections in immunocompromised mice. In these early studies, we have demonstrated both primary and secondary infections, expanded tissue tropism, and exten-sive dysplasia. Papillomaviruses are double-stranded DNA tumor viruses ofabout 8 kb. These viruses are ubiquitous in nature, and 241 types have been identified to date in both humans andmany other animal specie