Identification of an immunodominant epitope within the capsid protein of hepatitis C virus.
We have isolated cDNA clones from the 5' end of the Hutchinson strain of hepatitis C virus. Sequences encoding various segments of the HCV structural region were fused to the gene for glutathione S-transferase and analyzed for the expression of hepatitis C virus-capsid fusion proteins. With a set of these fusion proteins, both human and chimpanzee immune responses to capsid were studied. An immunodominant epitope was located within the amino-terminal portion of capsid that is preferentially recognized by antibodies in both human and chimpanzee hepatitis C virus-positive sera. In addition, analyses of sequential serum samples taken from humans and chimpanzees with either chronic or apparently self-limited infections revealed that a strong anti-capsid response develops rapidly after onset of infection.
Nasoff
M S
MS
Pharmacia Genetic Engineering, Inc., La Jolla, CA 92037.
Zebedee
S L
SL
Inchauspé
G
G
Prince
A M
AM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes