Isolation and Propagation of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 in Human Xenografts Implanted in the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Mouse

We report the isolation and propagation of human papillomavirus type 16, the main agent of cervical cancer, using human foreskin fragments implanted in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. The infection produced viral particles, and with each passage of the virus it caused lesions identical to intraepithelial neoplasia, the precursor to carcinoma.