High efficiency method for purifying human papillomavirus virus-like particles

A method of purifying human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 proteins, comprising the steps of:

• (i) culturing transformed host cells expressing an HPV L1 protein, harvesting the cultured host cells and disrupting the host cells;
• (ii) adding a reducing agent to a homogenate of the host cells;
• (iii) heating and chilling the homogenate of the host cells to which the reducing agent is added;
• (iv) removing precipitated contaminants by centrifugation of the heated and chilled cell homogenate;
• and
• (v) purifying HPV L1 proteins by performing chromatography on the heated and chilled homogenate of the host cells,
• wherein the chilling is performed at 0 to 10° C.;
• wherein the heating is performed at a temperature higher than 37° C. and equal to or lower than 60° C. for 10 minutes to 12 hours;
• and wherein the chromatography is ion exchange chromatography, heparin chromatography or affinity chromatography.