Compositions and methods for simultaneous detection of hcv antigen/antibody
AssigneeThe U.S.A., AS Represented By the Secretary, Depa- Rtment of Health and Human Services
InventorsYury E. Khudyakov, Anna Obriadina
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compositions and processes are provided for the robust detection of hepatitis C virus in a sample. Compositions include amino acid sequences of HCV core region including or exclusive to residues 14-31 or 50-90 of the HCV core protein. Also provided are processes of detecting HCV in a sample whereby the provided peptides are optionally used alone or in conjunction with antibodies that do not recognize the peptides so that detection is independent of seroconversion in a subject. Using the compositions and processes, HCV can be detected in a sample prior to or following seroconversion leading to robust HCV detection and diagnosis.
Claims14
A detection agent for the detection of an antibody directed to the HCV core protein comprising:
- a first epitope region comprising 5 or more contiguous amino acids including or between residues 14-31, 50-91, or both of SEQ ID NO:
- 1;
- a second epitope region comprising 5 or more contiguous amino acids including or between residues 14-31, 50-91, or both of SEQ ID NO:
- 1;
- and
- a linker positioned between said first epitope region and said second epitope region, the linker excluding any portion of SEQ ID NO:
- 1;
- said detection agent excluding residues 1-13, 41-49, and 100-120 of SEQ ID NO:
- 1.
A process of detecting the presence or absence of HCV in a biological sample comprising:
- contacting a biological sample with a detection agent comprising a peptide comprising 5 or more contiguous amino acids including or between residues 14-31, 50-91, or both of SEQ ID NO:
- 1, said detection agent excluding residues 1-13, 41-49, and 100-120 of SEQ ID NO:
- 1;
- and
- detecting the presence or absence of an anti-HCV core protein antibody in said biological sample that specifically binds to said detection agent, wherein the detection of said antibody indicates the presence of HCV in said sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.