Quantitation of human papillomavirus type 16 E6 oncogene sequences by real-time or quantitative PCR with EvaGreen.

Quantitation of E6 oncogene sequences of the human papillomavirus type 16 by real-time or quantitative PCR (qPCR) is used to determine the viral load, which correlates with the degree of the cervical neoplastic lesions. In the presence of EvaGreen, a new DNA intercalating fluorochrome, we obtained consistent and reproducible qPCR amplification curves and thermal denaturation profiles identical to those of the authentic E6-HPV16 (human papillomavirus 16) genome from the amplification products derived from a construct carrying the E6-HPV16 oncogene. E6-HPV16 quantitation in the presence of EvaGreen, therefore, is reproducible and specific and may be used to determine HPV16 viral load.