A method of providing papillomavirus like particles which may be used for diagnostic purposes or for incorporation in a vaccine for use in relation to infections causd by papillomavirus. The method includes an initial step of constructing one or more recombinant DNA molecules which each encode papillomavirus L1 protein or a combination of papillomavirus L1 protein and papillomavirus L2 protein followed by a further step of transfecting a suitable host cell with one or more of the recombinant DNA molecules so that virus like particles (VLPs) are produced within the cell after expression of the L1 or combination of L1 and L2 proteins. The VLPs are also claimed per se as well as vaccines incorporating the VLPs.