title: Enveloped particles in the serum of chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: HCV particles were isolated from the plasma of chronically infected patients. The virus was analysed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The fractions were tested for viral RNA, core antigen and envelope proteins by using a monoclonal antibody directed against the natural E1E2 complex (D32.10). Two populations of particles containing RNA plus core antigen were separated: the first with a density of 1.06-1.08 g/ml did not contain the envelope proteins; the second with a density between 1.17 and 1.21 g/ml expressed both E1 and E2 glycoproteins. Electron microscopy of the enveloped population after immunoprecipitation with D32.10 showed spherical particles with a rather featureless surface and with a diameter around 40 nm. Immuno-gold staining gave evidence that the E1E2 complex was indeed positioned at the surface of these particles.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U271, 151 Cours Albert Thomas, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03, France. petit@lyon.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Marjory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lièvre
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peyrol
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Sequeira
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berthillon
authors.forename: Rob W H
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Ruigrok
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trépo
mesh_terms: D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: C087035:E1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus