title: Hepatitis C virus-like particles synthesized in insect cells as a potential vaccine candidate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis in the world. Successful vaccine development is crucial in controlling global HCV infection. We have previously described the generation of HCV-like particles (HCV-LPs) in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus containing the complementary DNA of the HCV structural proteins. These HCV-LPs had similar morphological and biophysical properties as the putative virions. In this study, we analyzed the structural features, antigenic composition, seroreactivity, and immunogenicity of purified HCV-LPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  HCV-LPs were analyzed by electron microscopy and antibody immunolabeling and precipitation. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using HCV-LPs was developed. The humoral response to HCV-LPs in mice was studies by core and envelope ELISAs, Western immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Structural and antigenic compositions of HCV-LPs were shown to be similar to those of putative HCV virions. Using the HCV-LP ELISA, high-titer anti-HCV antibodies were detected in individuals infected with various HCV genotypes. In vivo, HCV-LPs elicited a humoral response broadly directed against HCV structural proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV-LPs resemble HCV virions and are capable of inducing a humoral response targeted against various regions of HCV structural proteins, suggesting that HCV-LPs may be promising as a potential vaccine candidate.
authors.affiliation: Liver Diseases Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1800, USA.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vergalla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Satoi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lechmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herion
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006031:Glycosylation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000235:genetics*; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins