Immunity in hepatitis C virus infection.
Immunity after HCV infection is weak, even after reinfection with the identical strain of virus. Even chronically infected chimpanzees can be reinfected. Weak immunity may reflect the fact that HCV virions are coated with lipoproteins (VLDL), preventing antibody binding. This phenomenon presents a serious challenge for development of vaccines.
Prince
A M
AM
Laboratory of Virology and Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute of New York Blood Center, NY 10021.
D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000378:metabolism; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011485:Protein Binding; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL