Hepatitis C virus epitopes
AssigneeGenelabs Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGregory R. Reyes, Jungsuh P. Kim, Randolph Moeckli, Christian C. Simonsen
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Abstract
Peptide antigens which are immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are disclosed. Several of the antigens are immunologically reactive with antibodies present in individuals identified as having chronic and acute HCV infection. The antigens are useful in diagnostic methods for detecting HCV infection in humans. Also disclosed are corresponding genomic-fragment clones containing polynucleotides encoding the open reading frame sequences for the antigenic peptides.
Claims12
A recombinant polypeptide which is specifically immunoreactive with sera from humans infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), where said polypeptide includes the peptide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:8.
A method of detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in an individual comprising
- reacting serum from an HCV-infected test individual with a peptide antigen which is specifically immunoreactive with sera from humans infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), where said peptide antigen includes the peptide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:8, and
- examining the antigen for the presence of bound antibody.
A method of producing a polypeptide which is specifically immunoreactive with sera from humans infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), comprising
- introducing into a suitable host, a recombinant expression vector containing an open reading frame (ORF) having a polynucleotide sequence which encodes a polypeptide which is specifically immunoreactive with sera from humans infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), where said polypeptide includes the peptide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:8 and where the vector is designed to express the ORF in said host, and
- culturing said host under conditions resulting in the expression of the ORF sequence.
An expression system for expressing a recombinant peptide antigen which is specifically immunoreactive with sera from humans infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), comprising
- a host capable of supporting expression of an open reading frame in a selected expression vector, and
- the selected expression vector containing an open reading frame (ORF) having a polynucleotide sequence which encodes said peptide antigen, where said peptide antigen includes the peptide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:8.
A polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide which is specifically immunoreactive with sera from humans infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), where said polypeptide includes the peptide sequence presented as SEQ ID NO:8.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.