Antibodies for oncogenic strains of HPV and methods of their use

Abstract

The subject invention provides antibodies, including polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, that bind to E6 proteins from at least three oncogenic strains of HPV. In general, the antibodies bind to amino acids motifs that are conserved between the E6 proteins of different HPV strains, particularly HPV strains 16 and 18. The subject antibodies may be used to detect HPV E6 protein in a sample, and, accordingly, the antibodies find use in a variety of diagnostic applications, including methods of diagnosing cancer. Kits for performing the subject methods and containing the subject antibodies are also provided.

1 . An antibody composition comprising a mixture of monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to E6 proteins of HPV strains 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45, wherein at least one of said monoclonal antibodies specifically binds to E6 proteins of at least three different oncogenic HPV strains. 
     
     
         2 . The antibody composition  claim 1 , wherein said mixture of monoclonal antibodies specifically bind to E6 proteins of HPV strains 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. 
     
     
         3 . The antibody composition  claim 1 , wherein said mixture of monoclonal antibodies specifically bind to E6 proteins of HPV strains 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58, 35 and 59. 
     
     
         4 . The antibody composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said monoclonal antibodies specifically bind to E6 proteins of at least six different oncogenic HPV strains. 
     
     
         5 . A diagnostic kit for the detection of an HPV E6 polypeptide in a sample, comprising:
 the antibody composition of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         6 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 5 , wherein said monoclonal antibodies are labeled. 
     
     
         7 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 5 , further comprising instructions for using said antibody composition to detect an oncogenic HPV E6 polypeptide in a sample. 
     
     
         8 . The diagnostic kit of  claim 5 , further comprising a PDZ domain polypeptide that binds to an oncogenic HPV E6 polypeptide in a sample. 
     
     
         9 . A method of detecting an HPV E6 protein in a sample, comprising:
 contacting an antibody composition of  claim 1  with said sample; and   detecting any binding of said antibody to said sample;   wherein binding of said antibody to said sample indicates the presence of an HPV E6 protein.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said sample is suspected of containing an oncogenic strain of HPV. 
     
     
         11 . A method of detecting the presence of an oncogenic HPV E6 protein in a sample, said method comprising:
 contacting a sample with a PDZ domain polypeptide; and,   detecting any binding of said oncogenic HPV E6 protein in said sample to said PDZ domain polypeptide using an antibody composition of  claim 1 ;   wherein binding of said oncogenic HPV E6 protein to said PDZ domain polypeptide indicates the presence of an oncogenic HPV E6 protein in said sample.   
     
     
         12 . A system for detecting the presence of an oncogenic HPV E6 polypeptide in a sample, said method comprising:
 a first and a second binding partner for an oncogenic HPV E6 polypeptide,   wherein said first binding partner is a PDZ domain protein and said second binding partner is an antibody that specifically binds to the E6 proteins of at least three different oncogenic HPV strains.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said binding partners is attached to a solid support.