Language
English
Publication Date
8-19-2025
Journal
Scientific Reports
DOI
10.1038/s41598-025-13583-2
PMID
40830554
PMCID
PMC12365143
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
8-19-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) from high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is a more specific biomarker for cervical cancer risk than hrHPV DNA due to its ability to differentiate clinically significant infections from transient ones. Detecting mRNA from exfoliated cervical cells, however, is a complex, expensive, and equipment-intensive process, making it infeasible in resource-limited settings. Here we describe a sensitive, specific, and minimally instrumented method to detect HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45 mRNA in exfoliated cervical cells. First, reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) exo assays were designed to amplify and detect HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45 E7 mRNA ≥100 copies per reaction in real time using a portable fluorimeter, which is on par with the only FDA-approved hrHPV mRNA test. Next, an extraction-free sample preparation method using only an enzymatic reaction was developed to lyse cells and degrade cellular DNA in cultured HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45-positive cells. The RT-RPA assays specifically amplified mRNA from this crude lysate across a clinically relevant range of concentrations. Eleven cervicovaginal samples were tested at the point of care using these methods and showed 100% agreement between RT-RPA and RT-qPCR results, including two samples that were positive for HPV16 mRNA. Additionally, nine negative samples spiked with HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45-positive cells successfully detected each respective HPV type. In total, this prototype assay has potential to make sensitive and specific hrHPV mRNA testing more accessible in resource-limited settings.
Keywords
Humans, RNA, Messenger, Female, Human papillomavirus 16, Papillomavirus Infections, Human papillomavirus 18, RNA, Viral, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Sensitivity and Specificity, Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Novak, Emilie Newsham; Ma, Ariel; Kundrod, Kathryn A; et al., "Extraction-Free Rt-Rpa Assay for Detection of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV45 mRNA Expression" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 6380.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/6380