Synthesis and purification of hepatitis C virus-like particles
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
InventorsT. Jake Liang, Thomas F. Baumert
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Abstract
Production of enveloped RNA virus-like particles intracellularly in vitro in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus vector containing a cDNA coding for viral structural proteins is disclosed. In vitro production and purification of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-like particles containing HCV core protein, E1 protein and E2 protein is disclosed. Production of antibodies in vivo to the purified HCV-like particles is disclosed.
Claims11
A method of producing an isolated non-infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) virus-like particle (VLP) having structural epitopes found on native infectious HCV particles comprising the steps of:
- (a) constructing recombinant DNA encoding HCV core protein, HCV envelope 1 (E1) protein, and HCV envelope 2 (E2) protein;
- (b) expressing said recombinant DNA in a eukaryotic host cell for sufficient time to allow production of said HCV core protein, HCV E1 protein, and HCV E2 protein and assembly of a non-infectious HCV VLP comprising said HCV core protein, HCV E1 protein, and HCV E2 protein;
- and
- (c) isolating said non-infectious HCV VLP from said eukaryotic host cell, whereby said isolated non-infectious HCV VLP possesses structural epitopes found on native infectious HCV particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.