title: Detection of antibody to hepatitis C E2/NS1 protein in patients with type C hepatitis.
abstract: Putative E2/NS1 sequence of hepatitis C virus was expressed in E. coli as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein. Approximately 80 kDa protein was obtained containing 38 kDa E2/NS1 protein. The antibody to this protein was detectable in the same serum from which the sequence was amplified. It was also detectable in none of 7 acute hepatitis, in 2 of 12 chronic persistent hepatitis, in 3 of 25 chronic active hepatitis, and in 2 of 4 cirrhosis. It was detectable in none of 10 normal subjects. In 3 cases who were positive for the antibody before the interferon treatment, it became undetectable after the treatment. Thus, it seems that the antibody is not a neutralizing antibody and is related to active viral replication.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins