Characterization of Equine Papillomavirus Type 2 in vivo and in vitro

Equine papillomavirus type 2 (EcPV2) was first described in 2010 and since then consistently detected in genital squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and precursor lesions (plaques, papillomas, CIS). There is strong evidence that EcPV2 is a crucial factor for the development of genital SCCs. EcPV2 is transcriptionally active in genital lesions and shows deregulated expression of the oncogenes E6 and E7. As the EcPV2 life-cycle in equine keratinocytes is differentiation dependent, advanced cell cultures, such as primary 3D skin resembling rafts, are necessary to model disease. These were recently established at the Institute of Virology. Future research will focus on the characterization of different gene expression profiles of EcPV2 in benign vs malignant lesions on a single cell level. This may shed light on differences in EcPV2 life cycle in different lesions. Additionally, special focus will be set on identifying the pathomechanisms of the oncogenes (E6 and E7) in lesional tissues and cell culture models. The long-term goal is to use this information for the development of new treatment options for genital EcPV2 associated lesions in horses.