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Antibody responses against B‐cell epitopes of the hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus in self‐limiting and chronic human hepatitis C followed‐up using consensus peptides
Author(s) -
Isaguliants Maria G.,
Widell Anders,
Zhang Shumin M.,
Sidorchuk Anna,
Levi Michael,
Smirnov Valerii D.,
Santantonio Teresa,
Diepolder Helmut M.,
Pape Gerd R.,
Nordenfelt Erik
Publication year - 2002
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.2131
Subject(s) - hypervariable region , epitope , virology , antibody , hepatitis c virus , virus , biology , amino acid , peptide sequence , hepacivirus , immunology , gene , genetics
Abstract A rare collection of serum samples from patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection followed up from the onset of clinical symptoms was acquired. RNA corresponding to the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of E2 protein of HCV isolated from nine patients was reverse‐transcribed, amplified, sequenced, and HVR1 amino acid sequences were deduced. These sequences and a selection of HVR1 amino acid sequences of matching HCV genotypes from protein and translated DNA sequence databanks were used to create the HVR1 amino acid consensus. The degenerated peptides mimicking N‐ and C‐termini of the consensus were synthesized. Most (76%) of 17 patients followed up for the period from 1 week to a minimum of 7 months from the onset of acute symptoms developed antibodies reacting with peptides representing N‐ and/or C‐ termini of HVR1. Antibody recognition of the consensus HVR1 peptides indicates that the variability of HVR1 sequence on the protein level is limited with certain conserved structure(s) being untouched. A tendency was observed for a slower development of anti‐HVR1 antibody response in patients developing chronic HCV, as compared to those with self‐limiting HCV infection. J. Med. Virol. 66:204–217, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.