title: Heterogeneity of the humoral anti-HCV/E2 response in persistently infected patients as demonstrated by divergent patterns of inhibition of the binding of anti-HCV/E2 human monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: A complete understanding of the molecular features of humoral immune response could be of pivotal importance in the management of persistent viruses as HCV. In this study, 24 HCV-positive samples, characterized by classical virological parameters, are evaluated using a new assay for the quantitation of antibody subpopulations directed against discrete epitopes on surface glycoprotein E2, a key viral protein. The results, besides confirming the usefulness of this new approach, highlight the extreme heterogeneity of anti-HCV/E2 response as far as single epitopes are concerned. The specific epitopes under study are also demonstrated to be widely shared among different genotypes.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus; C085706:FLAG peptide