A conserved cysteine in the DNA-binding domain of MmuPV1 E2 is required for replication <i>in vivo</i>

Papillomaviruses are the etiological agents of cancers of the oropharynx and anogenital tract. Understanding the mechanisms underlying PV pathogenesis is complicated by the strict species tropism displayed by the virus. The research presented here is significant because it links <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> models investigating the role of a conserved cysteine in the MmuPV1 E2 protein. This work elucidates the molecular mechanisms that regulate PV transcription and DNA replication and how these contribute to disease progression.