Open AccessIdentification of an immunodominant epitope within the capsid protein of hepatitis C virus.
Author(s) -
Marc Nasoff,
Suzanne L. Zebedee,
Geneviève Inchauspé,
Alfred M. Prince
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.88.12.5462
Subject(s) - capsid , virology , biology , epitope , virus , fusion protein , complementary dna , hepatitis c virus , gene , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , recombinant dna , genetics
We have isolated cDNA clones from the 5' end of the Hutchinson strain of hepatitis C virus. Sequences encoding various segments of the HCV structural region were fused to the gene for glutathione S-transferase and analyzed for the expression of hepatitis C virus-capsid fusion proteins. With a set of these fusion proteins, both human and chimpanzee immune responses to capsid were studied. An immunodominant epitope was located within the amino-terminal portion of capsid that is preferentially recognized by antibodies in both human and chimpanzee hepatitis C virus-positive sera. In addition, analyses of sequential serum samples taken from humans and chimpanzees with either chronic or apparently self-limited infections revealed that a strong anti-capsid response develops rapidly after onset of infection.