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E2 and NS5: New antigens for detection of hepatitis C virus antibodies
Author(s) -
Zaaijer H. L.,
Vallari D. S.,
Cunningham M.,
Lesniewski R.,
Reesink H. W.,
Van Poel C. L. Der,
Lelie P. N.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890440415
Subject(s) - virology , antibody , hepatitis c virus , antigen , recombinant dna , virus , cross reactivity , biology , immunology , gene , cross reactions , genetics
The value of two new hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens for detection of HCV antibodies was studied. These two recombinant antigens were derived from the nonstructural‐5 (NS5) and envelope ‐2 (E2) region of the HCV genome. In a panel of 33 HCV‐RNA positive samples with indeterminate Riba‐2 confirmatory test results, 29 samples (88%) showed additional antibody reactivity against E2 and 12 samples (36%) snowed additional reactivity against NS5. Among 39 HCV‐RNA negative, Riba‐2 indeterminate donor samples, no additional E2 or NS5 reactivity was found in 34 samples (87%); while 5 samples (13%) showed additional reactivity against NS5 and/or E2. E2 reactivity thus resolved the majority of hitherto indeterminate samples. In serial samples from nine posttransfusion hepatitis C patients, NS5 and E2 antibodies did not appear earlier than classical HCV antibodies. However, E2 antibodies eventually appeared in all nine patients. The recombinant E2 might be a candidate antigen for future HCV antibody assays. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.