Disclosed is a chimeric human papillomavirus (HPV) virus like particle (VLP) having a diameter of about 30nm, the chimeric HPV VLP comprising a chimeric HPV 16 L1/L2 polypeptide encoded by a human codon-optimised nucleotide sequence, the chimeric HPV 16 L1/L2 polypeptide further comprising an HPV 16 L1 polypeptide that includes an HPV L2 peptide of between about 13 amino acids to about 26 amino acids inserted from residue 414 of the HPV 16 L1 polypeptide, and wherein the amino acids of the inserted HPV L2 peptide replace the corresponding amino acids of the HPV 16 L1 polypeptide. Also disclosed is the use of such a chimeric HPV VLP in the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or treating HPV infection or cervical cancer in a subject, in need thereof.
