An ELISA for detection of antibodies to the E2 protein of GB virus C.
An ELISA was developed for detection of antibodies to GB virus C (GBV-C) using a recombinant E2 protein expressed in CHO cells. Seroconversion to anti-E2 positivity was noted among several persons infected with GBV-C RNA-positive blood through transfusion. Of 6 blood recipients infected by GBV-C RNA-positive donors, 4 (67%) became anti-E2 positive and cleared their viremia. Thus, anti-E2 seroconversion is associated with viral clearance. The prevalence of antibodies to E2 was relatively low (3.0%-8.1%) in volunteer blood donors but was higher in several other groups, including plasmapheresis donors (34.0%), intravenous drug users (85.2%), and West African subjects (13.3%), all of whom tested negative by GBV-C reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These data demonstrate that testing for anti-E2 should greatly extend the ability of RT-PCR to define the epidemiology and clinical significance of GBV-C.
Dille
B J
BJ
Viral Discovery Group, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA.
Surowy
T K
TK
Gutierrez
R A
RA
Coleman
P F
PF
Knigge
M F
MF
Carrick
R J
RJ
Aach
R D
RD
Hollinger
F B
FB
Stevens
C E
CE
Barbosa
L H
LH
Nemo
G J
GJ
Mosley
J W
JW
Dawson
G J
GJ
Mushahwar
I K
IK
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001782:Blood Donors; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000009:adverse effects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus