title: Immune responses to plasmid DNA encoding the hepatitis C virus core protein.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. The genomic region encoding the virion-associated core protein is relatively conserved among HCV strains. To generate a DNA vaccine capable of expressing the HCV core protein, the genomic region encoding amino acid residues 1 to 191 of the HCV-1 strain was amplified and cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector. Intramuscular inoculation of recombinant plasmid DNA into BALB/c mice (H-2d) generated core-specific antibody responses, lymphoproliferative responses, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. Our results suggest that the HCV core polynucleotide warrants further investigation as a potential vaccine against HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lagging
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoft
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Belshe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines