The invention describes a method for producing a chimaeric human
papillomavirus (HPV) L1 polypeptide containing a heterologous peptide,
and in particular, a HPV L2 peptide. The method comprises the steps of
introducing a DNA sequence coding for the heterologous peptide into a DNA
sequence coding for the L1 polypeptide; introducing the DNA sequence
including the sequences for the L1 polypeptide and heterologous peptide
into a host cell in which the DNA sequence can be expressed; causing
expression of the DNA sequence; and recovering the resulting chimaeric L1
polypeptide which includes the heterologous peptide. Typically, the
nucleotides encoding the heterologous peptide replace the nucleotides of
the L1 polypeptide at the point of insertion. The invention also
describes a vector for use in the method, a host cell containing the
vector, and a vaccine including the chimaeric HPV L1 polypeptide produced
according to the method.