Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 DNA Vaccine: Mutation in the Open Reading Frame of E7 Enhances Specific Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Induction and Antitumor Activity

A human papillomavirus type 16 E7 DNA vaccine with the open reading frame encoding mutations in two zinc-binding motifs expressed a rapidly degraded E7 protein. This vaccine induced a significantly stronger E7-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response and better tumor protection in mice than did a wild-type E7 DNA vaccine expressing a stable E7 protein.