Methods of detecting hepatitis C virus
OwnerKye-Hyung Paikinventor
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Abstract
The present invention provides a sensitive and specific test for hepatitis C virus. The test detects the presence of particular core antigens of hepatitis C, which appear earlier after initial infection than antigens or viral genetic materials used in previously-developed assays. The invention test allows detection of hepatitis C infection at an earlier stage of infection with a lower number of false positives than previously-developed tests. The invention also provides a novel core protein antigen and novel antibodies to the core protein antigen.
Claims17
A method of detecting hepatitis C virus, comprising detecting a mitochondrially expressed HCV peptide.
An isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3, wherein Xaa is Arg or another amino acid residue.
A method of making an antibody to the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3, comprising:
- (a) introducing a HCV short core peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 into an animal;
- (b) isolating splenocytes from the animal;
- (c) fusing the splenocytes with immortalized cells to form hybridomas;
- and
- (d) isolating said antibody to the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3.
A method of detecting HCV, comprising detecting the presence of a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3,wherein Xaa is Arg or another amino acid residue.
A method of detecting HCV, comprising detecting the presence of a mitochondrially expressed peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein Xaa is Arg or another amino acid residue.
A method of detecting HCV in a sample, comprising:
- (a) providing a support-bound antibody that binds a first epitope of a mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the first antibody is immobilized on a support medium;
- (b) contacting the support-bound antibody with a sample, whereby mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 binds to the support-bound antibody to form an antibody-antigen complex;
- (c) contacting the support-bound antibody with a labeled antibody that binds a second epitope of the mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3, whereby labeled antibody binds to the mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 to form an antibody-antigen-antibody complex;
- and
- (d) detecting the antibody-antigen-antibody complex, whereby detection of antibody-antigen-antibody complex above a predetermined threshold indicates presence of HCV in the sample.
A method of detecting the presence of HCV in a subject, comprising:
- (a) providing a support-bound antibody that binds a first epitope of a mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3, wherein the first antibody is immobilized on a support medium;
- (b) contacting the support-bound antibody with a sample from the subject, whereby mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 binds to the support-bound antibody to form an antibody-antigen complex;
- (c) contacting the support-bound antibody with a labeled antibody that binds a second epitope of the mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3, whereby labeled antibody binds to the mitochondrially expressed peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 to form an antibody-antigen-antibody complex;
- and
- (d) detecting the antibody-antigen-antibody complex, whereby detection of antibody-antigen-antibody complex above a predetermined threshold indicates presence of HCV in the subject.
A kit comprising:
- (a) a support-bound antibody that binds a first epitope of a mitochondrially expressed HCV peptide of SEQ ID NO:3;
- and
- (b) a labeled antibody that binds a second epitope of a mitochondrially expressed HCV peptide of SEQ ID NO:3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.