This document relates to polynucleotides encoding antigenic polypeptides to induce an immune response to oncogenic viral polypeptides. Also provided are compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding antigenic polypeptides and methods of use. In the provided methods the virus can be a human papilloma virus. In some embodiments a method for killing a cell expressing a first oncogenic viral polypeptide in a subject is provided. The method includes administering to the subject a composition in an amount sufficient to initiate an immune response against the first oncogenic viral peptide where the composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a polynucleotide provided herein and the immune response is effective to cause a cytotoxic effect in the cell. In some embodiments the polynucleotide includes a second nucleotide sequence encoding a second antigenic polypeptide. The first oncogenic viral polypeptide can be E6 and the second oncogenic viral polypeptide can be E7.
