Origin and evolution of papillomavirus (onco)genes and genomes

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are ancient viruses infecting vertebrates, from fish to mammals. Although the genomes of PVs are small and show conserved synteny, PVs display large genotypic diversity and ample variation in the phenotypic presentation of the infection. Most PVs genomes contain two small early genes E6 and E7. In a bunch of closely related human PVs, the E6 and E7 proteins provide the viruses with oncogenic potential.\n\nThe recent discoveries of PVs without E6 and E7 in different fish species place a new root on the PV tree, and suggest that the ancestral PV consisted of the minimal PV backbone E1-E2-L2-L1.\n\nBayesian phylogenetic analyses date the most recent common ancestor of the PV backbone to 424 million years ago (Ma). Common ancestry tests on extant E6 and E7 genes indicate that they share respectively a common ancestor dating back to at least 184 Ma. In AlphaPVs infecting primates, the appearance of the E5 oncogene 53-58 Ma concurred with i) a significant increase in substitution rate, ii) a basal radiation, and iii) key gain of functions in E6 and E7. This series of events was instrumental to build the extant phenotype of oncogenic human PVs.\n\nOur results assemble the current knowledge on PV diversity and present an ancient evolutionary timeline punctuated by evolutionary innovations in the history of this successful viral family.