U.S. patent application number 10/685435 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for multi-mer peptides derived from hepatitis c virus envelope proteins for diagnostic use and vaccination purposes.
This patent application is currently assigned to N.V. INNOGENETICS S.A.. Invention is credited to Depla, Erik, Maertens, Geert.
Application Number | 20040126754 10/685435 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8231063 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040126754 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maertens, Geert ; et
al. |
July 1, 2004 |
Multi-mer peptides derived from hepatitis C virus envelope proteins
for diagnostic use and vaccination purposes
Abstract
Multimer peptides (e.g. 30- to 45-mer peptides) derived from
hepatitis C virus envelope proteins reacting with the majority of
anti-HCV antibodies present in patient sera are described. The
usage of the latter peptides to diagnose, and to vaccinate against,
an infection with hepatitis C virus is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Maertens, Geert; (Brugge,
BE) ; Depla, Erik; (Dealalbergen, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
1100 N GLEBE ROAD
8TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22201-4714
US
|
Assignee: |
N.V. INNOGENETICS S.A.
Ghent
BE
|
Family ID: |
8231063 |
Appl. No.: |
10/685435 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10685435 |
Oct 16, 2003 |
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09566266 |
May 5, 2000 |
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09566266 |
May 5, 2000 |
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PCT/EP98/07105 |
Nov 6, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
435/5 ; 530/350;
530/388.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2500/00 20130101;
A61K 39/00 20130101; C12N 2770/24222 20130101; G01N 33/56983
20130101; C07K 14/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/005 ;
530/350; 530/388.3 |
International
Class: |
C12Q 001/70; C07K
016/08; C07K 014/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 1997 |
EP |
97870179.5 |
Claims
1. A peptide of more than 20 contiguous amino acids derived from
the envelope region of HCV-related viruses which binds and
recognizes anti-HCV-related virus antibodies.
2. A peptide which binds and recognizes an anti-HCV antibody or an
anti-HGV antibody present in a sample of body fluid and which is
chosen from the group consisting of the sequences as represented in
SEQ D NOs 1 to 38.
3. A functionally equivalent variant or fragment of a peptide
according to claim 2.
4. A peptide according to claims 2 or 3, wherein said anti-HCV
antibody present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HCV-E1 or
anti-HCV-E2 antibody.
5. A peptide according to of claims 2 or 3, wherein said anti-HGV
antibody present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HGV-E1 or
anti-HGV-E2 antibody.
6. A peptide according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said
peptide is synthesized chemically.
7. A peptide according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said
peptide is synthesized using recombinant DNA techniques.
8. A peptide according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said
peptide is biotinylated or contains cysteine bridges.
9. A combination of peptides according to any of claims 1 to 8.
10. A method for diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV-related
viruses comprising: contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
within a sample of body fluid with a peptide according to any of
claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of peptides according to claim
9, determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
within a sample of body fluid with a peptide according to any of
claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of peptides according to claim
9.
11. An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related
virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising: possibly
a solid support, a peptide according to any of claims 1 to 8 or a
combination of peptides according to claim 9, appropriate markers
which allow to determine the complexes formed between
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid
with a peptide according to any of claims 1 to 8 or a combination
of peptides according to claim 9.
12. A bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the
interaction between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus
antibody, said bioassay comprising: contacting anti-HCV-related
virus antibodies with a peptide according to any of claims 1 to 8
or with a combination of peptides according to claim 9, determining
the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide
according to any of claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of peptides
according to claim 9, adding a modulator or a combination of
modulators to the contacted anti-HCV-related virus antibodies and a
peptide according to any of claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of
peptides according to claim 9, determining the modulation of
binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide
according to any of claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of peptides
according to claim 9.
13. A bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the
interaction between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus
antibody, said bioassay comprising: determining the binding of
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide according to any
of claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of peptides according to
claim 9, contacting a modulator with a peptide according to any of
claims 1 to 8 or with a combination of peptides according to claim
9, adding anti-HCV-related virus antibodies to the contacted
modulator with the peptide according to any of claims 1 to 8 or
with a combination of peptides according to claim 9, determining
the modulation of binding between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
with a peptide according to any of claims 1 to 8 or with a
combination of peptides according to claim 9.
14. A method for producing a modulator as defined by claims 12 or
13.
15. A modulator for the interaction between a peptide and an
anti-HCV-related virus antibody, wherein said modulator was
identified by the method according to claims 12 or 13.
16. A composition containing a modulator or a combination of
modulators wherein said modulator or combination of modulators was
identified by the method according to claims 12 or 13.
17. A composition comprising a peptide according to any of claims 1
to 8 or a combination of peptides according to claim 9.
18. A plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a
polypeptide according to any of claims 1 to 5 or a modulator
according to any of claims 12 to 16, operably linked to
transcription regulatory elements.
19. A composition according to any of claims 16 to 18 for
vaccinating humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any
mutated strain thereof.
20. A composition according to any of claims 16 to 18 for
therapeutically treating humans against infection with HCV-related
virus or any mutated strain thereof.
21. An antibody, more particularly a monoclonal antibody,
characterized in that it specifically recognizes an HCV-related
virus peptide according to any of claims 1 to 9.
22. A method to immunize humans against infection with HCV-related
virus or any mutated stain thereof, comprising the use of a peptide
according to any of claims 1 to 8 or a combination of peptides
according to claim 9.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to multi-mer peptides derived
from hepatitis C virus envelope proteins which react with the
majority of anti-HCV antibodies present in patient sera.
Consequently, the present invention relates to the usage of the
latter peptides to diagnose, and to vaccinate against, an infection
with hepatitis C virus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem
in both developed and developing countries. It is estimated that
about 1 to 5% of the world population is affected by the virus,
amounting up to 175 million chronic infections worldwide. HCV
infection appears to be the most important cause of
transfusion-associated hepatitis and frequently progresses to
chronic liver damage. Moreover, there is evidence implicating HCV
in induction of hepatocellular carcinoma. Consequently, the demand
for reliable diagnostic methods and effective therapeutic agents is
high. There is also an urgent need to characterize new epitopes
which can be used in the design of effective vaccines against
hepatitis C.
[0003] HCV is a positive stranded RNA virus of about 9,8 kilobases
which code for at least three structural and at least six
non-structural proteins. The structural proteins have not yet been
functionally assigned, but are thought to consist of a single core
protein and two envelope proteins E1 and E2. The E1 protein
consists of 192 amino acids and contains 5 to 6 N-glycosylation
sites, depending on the HCV genotype, whereas the E2 protein
consists of 363 to 370 amino acids and contains up to 11
N-glycosylation sites, depending on the HCV genotype (for review
see Maertens and Stuyver, 1997).
[0004] The E1 and E2 proteins are currently not included in HCV
antibody (Ab) assays, primarily because of their complex
conformational structures which require expression in mammalian
cells as well as non-denaturing purification techniques. Indeed,
after expression of E2 in Escherichia coli, the reactivity of HCV
sera with the recombinant protein ranged from 14 (Yokosuka et al.,
1992) to 17% (Mita et al., 1992), whereas expression in eukaryotic
systems yields reactivities of 13 to 97% (Inoue, 1992; Chien,
1993). Others demonstrated that the E1 protein expressed as a
single protein from eukaryotic cells did not shown high reactivity
with patient sera (from 6 to 60%; Kohara et al. (1992), Hsu et al.
(1992), Chien et al. (1993)). We previously reported that high
prevalences of Ab's to both of the purified recombinant E1 and E2
proteins, which were expressed in mammalian cells, could be found
in sera from chronic hepatitis C patients (WO 96/04385 to Maertens
et al.). In this regard, we also demonstrated that the majority of
anti-E1 and anti-E2 antibodies in sera from HCV patients could not
be mapped using 20-mer peptides (WO 96/04385 to Maertens et al.).
Indeed, although all of the murine monoclonal Ab's against E1 could
be mapped to reactivity with two 20-mer peptides, denoted as
epitope A (amino acids (aa) 313-326) and epitope B (aa 208-224), at
most 50% of patient sera reactive with recombinant proteins
recognized epitope A and B. With regard to the E2 protein, only
three out of twenty four murine monoclonal Ab's could be mapped
using 20-mer peptides. These three Ab's were mapped to the
hypervariable region I (HVR I) covered by peptide E2-67 (aa
394-413) and to a region covered by a peptide denoted E2-13B (aa
523-542). The remaining twenty-one Ab's could not be mapped using
20-mer peptides. The relative map positions of seven of these Ab's
could be deduced from competition studies using recombinant E2
protein.
[0005] Taken together, it appears that anti-E1 and anti-E2 Ab's
might be highly prevalent in sera of HCV patients. However,
determining the presence of these Ab's is problematic due to the
need to use eukaryotically expressed E1 and E2, which have to be
purified using cumbersome non-denaturing techniques. As an
alternative, chemically synthesized 20-mer peptides derived from
the E1 and/or E2 proteins were produced. However, these synthesized
20-mer peptides were not able to recognize the anti-E1 and anti-E2
Ab's in sera from HCV patients.
[0006] There is thus a need to design alternative methods to screen
for HCV envelope Ab's.
AIMS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is clear from the literature cited above that the E1 and
E2 proteins probably have complex conformational structures which
are essential for recognizing (and binding to) the anti-E1 and
anti-E2 Ab's in sera from HCV patients. This could explain why
prokaryotically expressed complete or near-complete E1 and E2
proteins, which might be malfolded due to the lack of
glycosylations, relevant chaperones or correct cysteine bridles,
and 20-mer peptides, which might be unable to mimic a complex
conformational structure, are not able to recognize these Ab's.
[0008] The present invention relates to the surprising finding that
multi-mer peptides (eg 30- to 45-mer peptides) are able to
recognize the majority of anti-E1 and anti-E2 Ab's in sera from HCV
patients. It should be clear that this is a surprising finding
because there is no guidance which would suggest that 30- to 45-mer
peptides derived from E1 and E2 would acquire proper folding and
would efficiently recognize the majority of HCV envelope Ab's. In
contrast, one would assume that the chance that multi-mer peptides
malfold would be as great, or even greater, than the chance that
prokaryotically expressed complete proteins malfold as is suggested
above. In the case of the HCV NS3 protein for example, which reacts
with more than 90% of patient samples as expressed from E. coli,
20-50 mer peptides only react very weakly.
[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims at providing a peptide
of more than 20 contiguous amino acids derived from the envelope
region of HCV-related viruses which binds and recognizes
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies. HCV-related viruses, including
HCV, GBV-B virus, GBV-A virus and GBV-C (HGV or hepatitis G virus),
are a division of the Flaviviruses, which further comprise Dengue
virus, Yellow fever virus, Pestiviruses such as Classical Swine
Fever Virus and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (Wengler, 1991).
[0010] More specifically, the present invention aims at providing a
peptide which binds and recognizes an anti-HCV antibody or an
anti-HGV antibody present in a sample of body fluid and which is
chosen from the group consisting of the sequences as represented in
SEQ ID NOs 1 to 38 (see Table 1) or a functionally equivalent
variant or fragment thereof.
[0011] In this respect, the present invention aims specifically at
providing a peptide as described above, wherein said anti-HCV
antibody present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HCV-E1
antibody or an anti-HCV-E2 antibody.
[0012] The present invention thus aims also at providing a peptide
as described above, wherein said anti-HGV antibody present in a
sample of body fluid is an anti-HGV-E1 antibody or an anti-HGV-E2
antibody.
[0013] Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a peptide
as described above, wherein said peptide is synthesized chemically
or is synthesized using recombinant DNA techniques.
[0014] The present invention also aims at providing a peptide as
described above, wherein said peptide is biotinylated or contains
cysteine bridges.
[0015] Furthermore, the present invention aims at providing any
combination of peptides as described above, as well as compositions
containing said combination of peptides or peptides as described
above .
[0016] In addition, the present invention aims at providing a
method for diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV-related
viruses comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or
with a combination of peptides as described above, determining the
binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of
body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a combination
of peptides as described above.
[0017] In addition, the present invention aims at providing an
assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus
antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a solid
support, a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides
as described above, appropriate markers which allow to determine
the complexes formed between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or
a combination of peptides as described above.
[0018] In addition, the present invention aims at providing a
bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the interaction
between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said
bioassay comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as
described above, determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus
antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of
peptides as described above, adding a modulator (ie a compound
which is able to modulate the interaction between an envelope
protein and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody) or a combination of
modulators to the contacted anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with
a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as
described above, determining the modulation of binding of
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above
or a combination of peptides as described above
[0019] In addition, the present invention aims at providing a
bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the interaction
between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said
bioassay comprising determining the binding of anti-HCV-related
virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination
of peptides as described above, contacting a modulator with a
peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as
described above, adding anti-HCV-related virus antibodies to the
contacted modulator with the peptide as described above or a
combination of peptides as described above, determining the
modulation of binding between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies
with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as
described above.
[0020] Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a
modulator, a composition containing a modulator, or a combination
of modulators when produced by the bioassay as described above or
when identified by the above-described bioassays.
[0021] Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a
composition comprising a plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide
sequence encoding a peptide as described above, or a modulator as
described above, operably linked to transcription regulatory
elements.
[0022] Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a
composition as described above for use to vaccinate or
therapeutically treat humans against infection with HCV-related
virus or any mutated strain thereof
[0023] Moreover, it is an aim of the present invention to provide
an antibody, more particularly a monoclonal antibody, characterized
in that it specifically recognizes an HCV-related virus polypeptide
as described above.
[0024] Finally, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a
method to immunize humans against infection with HCV-related virus
or any mutated strain thereof, comprising the use of a peptide as
described above or a combination of peptides as described
above.
[0025] All the aims of the present invention are considered to have
been met by the embodiments as set out below. Other advantages and
features of the instant invention will be evident from the
following claims and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TABLES AND DRAWINGS
[0026] Table 1 provides information on the envelope protein and the
HCV genotype from which the peptides of the present invention are
derived. This table also provides the name, the amino acid
sequence, the position within the envelope proteins and the
sequence identity (SEQ ID) of the peptides of the present
invention.
[0027] Table 2 shows ELISA results (in mOD) of reactivities of
multimer peptides and recombinant E2 with 60 HCV positive samples
and 4 control samples.
[0028] Table 3 shows the analysis for E1 antibodies of 23 sera from
responders to interferon treatment.
[0029] Table 4 shows the analysis of E2 antibodies of 23 sera from
responders to interferon treatment.
[0030] Table 5 shows the monitoring of disease over time by
measuring antibodies to the HCV E1 and E2 regions in 18
patients.
[0031] Table 6 indicates the reactivity of HGV (Hepatitis G virus)
RNA positive sera with the HGV E1 peptide V1V2.
[0032] FIG. 1 demonstrates the positions of the multi-mer peptides
of the present invention relative to the conserved and variable
regions of the E1 envelope protein of HCV (HVR=hypervariable
regions; V=variable regions; C=conserved regions; HR=hydrophobic
region; SA=signal anchor domain; Y=glycosylation; I=cysteine).
[0033] FIG. 2 demonstrates the positions of the multi-mer peptides
of the present invention relative to the conserved and variable
regions of the E2 envelope protein of HCV (HVR=hypervariable
regions; V=variable regions; C=conserved regions; SA=signal anchor
domain; Y=glycosylation; I=cysteine).
[0034] FIG. 3 shows the reactivity of 20-mer E2 peptides. The OD
values of serum samples from patients with chronic active hepatitis
C were added and plotted against the different peptides.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows the reactivity of mulit-mer E2 peptides. The OD
values of the samples were added and plotted against the different
peptides. The samples were identical as used for FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The invention described herein draws on previously published
work and pending patent applications. By way of example, such work
consists of scientific papers, patents or pending patent
applications. All these publications and applications, cited
previously or below are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0037] The present invention is based on the finding that multimer
peptides, as of a certain length, derived from the envelope
proteins of HCV-related viruses, eg HCV and HGV, recognize and bind
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies, eg anti-HCV antibodies and
anti-HGV antibodies, respectively. Therefore, the present invention
provides a peptide of more than 20 contiguous amino acids derived
from the envelope region of HCV-related viruses which binds and
recognizes anti-HCV-related virus antibodies.
[0038] HCV-related viruses include, but are not limited to HCV,
GBV-B virus, GBV-A virus and GBV-C virus (HGV or hepatitis G
virus)(Linnen et al., 1996). HCV constitutes a genus within the
Flaviviridae, and is closely related to hepatitis G virus (26.8% at
the amino acid level). The term "envelope region" of HCV-related
viruses is a well-known region by a person skilled in the art
(Wengler, 1991), and comprises the E1 protein as well as the E2
protein, which was previously called non-structural protein 1 (NS
1) or E2/NS1.
[0039] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a peptide,
which binds and recognizes an anti-HCV antibody or an anti-HGV
antibody present in a sample of body fluid, and which is chosen
from the group consisting of the sequences as represented in SEQ ID
1 to 38 (see Table 1) or a functionally equivalent variant or
fragment thereof.
[0040] The present invention relates also to a peptide as described
above, wherein said anti-HCV antibody or said anti-HGV antibody
present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HCV-E1 or anti-HCV-E2
antibody, or an anti-HGV-E1 or anti-HGV-E2 antibody,
respectively.
[0041] The term "a peptide" refers to a polymer of amino acids
(aa's) derived (i.e. containing less aa's) from the well-known
HCV-related virus envelope proteins E1 and E2 (Linnen et al., 1996,
Maertens and Stuyver, 1997), which binds anti-HCV-related virus
antibodies. The term "a peptide" refers in particular to a polymer
of aa's derived from HCV envelope proteins E1 and E2, which binds
anti-HCV antibodies, or from HGV envelope proteins E1 and E2, which
binds anti-HGV antibodies.
[0042] The terms "peptide", "polypeptide" and "protein" are used
interchangeably herein.
[0043] The term "an anti-HCV-related virus antibody" refers to any
polyclonal or monoclonal antibody binding to a HCV-related virus
particle or any molecule derived from said viral particle. More
particularly, the term "an anti-HCV-related virus antibody" refers
to antibodies binding to the natural, recombinant or synthetic E1
and/or E2 proteins derived from HCV or HGV proteins (anti-HCV-E1 or
anti-HCV-E2 antibody, or anti-HGV-E1 or anti-HGV-E2 antibody,
respectively).
[0044] The term "monoclonal antibody" used herein refers to an
antibody composition having a homogeneous antibody population. The
term is not limiting regarding the species or source of the
antibody, nor is it intended to be limited by the manner in which
it is made.
[0045] In addition, the term "antibody" also refers to humanized
antibodies in which at least a portion of the framework regions of
an immunoglobulin are derived from human immunoglobulin sequences
and single chain antibodies as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778
and to fragments of antibodies such as F.sub.ab, F.sub.'(ab))2,
F.sub.v, and other fragments which retain the antigen binding
function and specificity of the parent antibody.
[0046] The term "a sample of body fluid" as used herein refers to a
fluid obtained from an organism, such as serum, plasma, saliva,
gastric secretions, mucus, spinal cord fluid, and the like. The
term "the group consisting of the sequences as represented in SEQ
ID NOs 1 to 33" as used herein refers to the thirty-eight peptides
shown in Table 1 of the present application. In this table, it is
indicated:
[0047] in the column named "protein" from which HCV envelope
protein the peptide is derived, but for the envelope protein of
HGV, which is denoted E1(HGV),
[0048] in the column named "genotype" the HCV genotype from which
the envelope protein is derived, and thus the peptide is derived,
except for HGV which was not determined (ND),
[0049] in the column named "peptide" the assignment of the peptide
region.
[0050] the aa sequence of the peptide and,
[0051] in the column named "position", the well-known (Maertens and
Stuyver, 1997) aa position of the peptides within the HCV envelope
proteins. Note that the position for the E1 envelope protein is not
determined, which is denoted as "ND".
[0052] The term "functionally equivalent" as used in "functionally
equivalent variant or fragment thereof" refers to variants and
fragments of the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38, which bind
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies. The term "variant or fragment"
as used in "functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof"
refers to any variant or any fragment of the peptides represented
by SEQ ID 1 to 38. Furthermore, the latter terms do not refer to,
nor do they exclude, post-translational modifications of the
peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 such as glycosylation,
acetylation, phosphorylation, modifications with fatty acids and
the like. Included within the definition are, for example, peptides
containing one or more analogues of an aa (including unnatural
aa's), peptides with substituted linkages, mutated versions or
natural sequence variations of the peptides (for examples
corresponding to the genotypes HCV, as described in WO 94/12670 to
Maertens et al.), peptides containing disulfide bounds between
cysteine residues, or other cysteine modifications, biotinylated
peptides, as well as other modifications known in the art.
Modification of the structure of the polypeptides can be for such
objectives as increasing therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy,
stability (e.g. ex vivo shelf life and in vivo resistance to
proteolytic degradation), or post-translational modifications (e.g.
to alter the phosphorylation pattern of protein). Such modified
peptides, when designed to retain at least one activity of the
naturally-occurring form of the protein are considered functional
equivalents of the polypeptides described in more detail herein.
Such modified peptides can be produced, for instance, by amino acid
substitution, deletion, or addition. For example, it is reasonable
to expect that an isolated replacement of a leucine with an
isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine
with a serine, or a similar replacement of an amino acid with a
structurally related amino acid (i.e. isosteric and/or isoelectric
mutations) will not have a major effect on the biological activity
of the resulting molecule. Conservative replacements are those that
take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their
side chains. Genetically encoded amino acids can be divided into
four families: (1) acidic: aspartate, glutamate; (2) basic: lysine,
arginine, histidine; (3) nonpolar: alanine, valine, leucine,
isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan; and (4)
uncharged polar: glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine,
threonine, tyrosine. In similar fashion, the amino acid repertoire
can be grouped as (1) acidic: aspartate, glutamate; (2) basic:
lysin, arginine histidine, (3) aliphatic: glycine, alanine, valine,
leucine, isoleucine, serine, threoaine, with serine and threonine
optionally be grouped separately as aliphatic-hydroxyl; (4)
aromatic: phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, (5) amide:
asparagine, glutamine; and (6) sulfur-containing: cysteine and
methionine. (see, for example, Biochemistry, 2nd ed., Ed. by L.
Stryer, W H Freeman and Co.: 1981). Whether a change in the amino
acid sequence of a peptide results in a functional homologue (e.g.
functional in the sense that the resulting polypeptide mimics the
wild-type form) can be readily determined by assessing the ability
of the variant peptide to produce a response in e.g. ELISAs in a
fashion similar to the wild-type protein, or to competitively
inhibit such a response. Polypeptides in which more than one
replacement has been introduced can be readily tested in the same
manner. It should also be clear that the region of a peptide
represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 which bind to an antibody (the
so-called epitope) need not to be composed of a contiguous aa
sequence. In this regard, the term "fragment" includes any fragment
which comprises these non-contiguous binding regions or parts
thereof. In other words, fragments which include these binding
regions may be separated by a linker, which is not a functional
part of the epitope. This linker does not need to be an amino acid
sequence, but can be any molecule, eg organic or inorganic, that
allows the formation of the desired epitope by two or more
fragments.
[0053] Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments
of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 5, 7 to 9, and 18 as used herein include
peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23
aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's,
or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's or 33 aa's, or 34
aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments
of SEQ ID NO 6 as used herein include to peptides having a length
of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's. Moreover, it should be
clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 10 as used
herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or
22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27
aa's, or 28 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants
and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 11, 15, 21, 34 as used herein include
to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23
aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's or
29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's. Moreover,
it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs
12, 24 or 32 as used herein include to peptides having a length of
at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's,
or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's. or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31
aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, or 35 aa's. Moreover, it
should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 13,
22, or 34 used herein include to peptides having a length of at
least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or
26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's. Moreover,
it should be that clear the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 16
as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21
aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's,
or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32
aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or
38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that
the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 17 as used herein refers to
peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23
aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's,
or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear
that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 19 as used herein
refers to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's,
or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28
aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's,
or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's. Moreover, it should be
clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 20 and 30 as
used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21
aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's,
or 27 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and
fragments of SEQ ID NO 23 as used herein include to peptides having
a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's,
or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30
aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or
36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's, or 41
aa's, or 42 aa's, or 43 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the
variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 25 or 29 as used herein
include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's,
or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the
variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 26 as used herein include
peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23
aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's or
29 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and
fragments of SEQ ID NO 27 as used herein include peptides having a
length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or
25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30
aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or
36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's, or 41
aa's, or42 aa's, or 43 aa's, or 44 aa's. Moreover, it should be
clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 28 or 31 as used
herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22
aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's,
or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's.
Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ
ID NO 33 as used herein include peptides having a length of at
least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or
26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31
aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37
aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's, or 41 aa's. Moreover it
should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 14 or
37 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21
aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's,
or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32
aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or
38 aa's, or 39 aa's.
[0054] In addition, it shall be appreciated by the person skilled
in the art that the amino acid regions of the peptides, which are
disclosed in the present invention and that bind anti-HCV
antibodies, can be delineated in more detail by
experimentation.
[0055] In addition, it should be clear that the variants and
fragments of the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38, as herein
described, can be prepared by any method known in the art such as
classical chemical synthesis, as described by Houbenweyl (1974) and
Atherton & Shepard (1989), or by means of recombinant DNA
techniques as described by eg Maniatis et al. (1982), or Sambrook
et al. (1989).
[0056] Similarly, it should be clear that also the peptides
represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 of the present invention can be
prepared by any method known in the art and more particularly by
means of classical chemical synthesis, as described by Houbenweyl
(1974) and Atherton & Shepard (1989), or by means of
recombinant DNA techniques such as described by eg Maniatis et al.
(1982), or Sambrook et al. (1989).
[0057] The present invention further relates to the peptides
represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 and functionally equivalent variants
or fragments thereof, all as defined above, which are biotinylated
or contain cysteine bridges. Biotinylated peptides can be obtained
by any method known in the art, such as the one described in
WO93/18054 to De Leys. Methods for obtaining peptides containing
inter- and/or intramolecular cysteine bridges are extensively
described in WO 96/13590 to Maertens & Stuyver.
[0058] The present invention also relates to any combination of
peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 and functionally equivalent
variants or fragments thereof as defined above. The terms "any
combination" refers to any possible mixture of above-described
peptides or any possible linkage (covalently or otherwise) between
above-described peptides. Examples of the latter peptide
combinations are simple mixtures, homo- or hetero-branched
peptides, combinations of biotinylated peptides presented on
streptavidin, avidin or neutravidin, chemically cross-linked
peptides with or without spacer, condensed peptides and
recombinantly produced peptides.
[0059] The present invention relates also an antibody, more
particularly a monoclonal antibody, characterized in that it
specifically recognizes an HCV-related virus polypeptide as
described above.
[0060] The present invention also relates to a method for
diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV-related viruses
comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a
sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a
combination of peptides as described above, and, determining the
binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of
body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a combination
of peptides as described above. As used herein, the term "a method
for diagnosing" refers to any immunoassay known in the art such as
assays which utilize biotin and avidin or streptavidin, ELISAs and
immunoprecipitation and agglutination assays. A detailed
description of these assays is given in WO 96/13590 to Maertens
& Stuyver.
[0061] In this regard, the present invention also relates to an
assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus
antibodies comprising a solid support, a peptide as described above
or a functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof, or
combination of peptides as described above, and appropriate markers
which allow to determine the complexes formed between
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid
with a peptide as described above, or a functionally equivalent
variant or fragment thereof, or combination of peptides as
described above.
[0062] The term "a solid support" refers to any solid support known
in the art.
[0063] Similarly, the term "appropriate markers" refers to any
marker known in the art.
[0064] It should also be clear that the term "a method for
diagnosing" encompasses screening, detection, confirmation,
monitoring and serotyping methods.
[0065] The present invention further pertains to a bioassay for
identifying compounds which modulate the binding between a peptide
and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, comprising contacting
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described
above, or a combination of peptides as described above, and
determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a
peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as
described above, adding a modulator or a combination of modulators
to the contacted anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide
as described above, or a combination of peptides as described
above, and finally determining the modulation of binding of
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described
above, or a combination of peptides as described above.
[0066] In another embodiment the present invention features a
bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the binding
between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody,
comprising determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus
antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of
peptides as described above, contacting a modulator with a peptide
as described above, or a combination of peptides as described
above, adding anti-HCV-related virus antibodies to the contacted
modulator with a peptide as described above, or a combination of
peptides as described above, determining the modulation of binding
of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described
above, or a combination of peptides as described above.
[0067] The term "compound" as used herein refers to a composition,
which has a molecular weight of less than about 25 KDa, preferably
less than 10 KDa, and most preferably less than 5 KDa. Compounds
can be nucleic acids, peptides, polypeptides, peptidomimetics,
carbohydrates, lipids or other organic or inorganic molecules, or
antibodies which may be generated by the host itself upon
vaccination.
[0068] The term "binding" as used herein indicates that a peptide
as described above is physically connected to, and interacts with
antibodies. Binding of the peptide to the antibody can be
demonstrated by any method or assay known in the art such as
binding-, ELISA, and RIA-type of assays or competition assays (eg
see Examples section and Current protocols in immunology).
[0069] The terms "modulation" or "modulate" as used herein refer to
both upregulation (i.e., activation or stimulation (e.g., by
agonizing or potentiating)) and downregulation (i.e. inhibition or
suppression (e.g. by antagonizing, decreasing or inhibiting) of the
binding between a peptide and an anti-HCV antibody.
[0070] The term "modulator" as used herein refer to the ability of
a compound as described above to modulate as described above.
[0071] The term "peptidomimetics" as used herein refers to
molecules which can be manufactured and which mimic those residues
of peptides which modulate the interaction of the antibody with the
peptide as described above. For instance, non-hydrolyzable peptide
analogs of such residues can be generated using benzodiazepine
(e.g., see Freidinger et al. in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G.
R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988),
azepine (e.g., see Huffman et al. in Peptides: Chemistry and
Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands,
1988), PNA, substituted gamma lactam rings (Garvey et al. in
Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM
Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), ketomethylene pseudopeptides
(Ewenson et al. (1986) J Med Chem 29:295: and Ewenson et al. in
Peptides: Structure and Function (Proceedings of the 9th American
Peptide Symposium) Pierce Chemical Co. Rockland, Ill., 1985),
.beta.-turn dipeptide cores (Nagai et al. (1985) Tetrahedron
Lett
[0072] 26:647; and Sato et al. (1986) J Chem Soc Perkin Trans
1:1231), and .beta.-aminoalcohols (Gordon et al. (1985) Biochem
Biophys Res Commun, 126:419; and Dann et al. (1986) Biochem Biophys
Res Commun 134:71).
[0073] The present invention pertains to a modulator produced by a
bioassay as described above.
[0074] The present invention pertains also to a modulator for the
interaction between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus
antibody, when said modulators are identified by a bioassay as
described above.
[0075] The present invention features a composition comprising as
an active substance a peptide as described above or a combination
of peptides as described above.
[0076] The present invention features also a composition comprising
as an active substance a modulator as described above or a
combination of modulators as described above.
[0077] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a
composition comprising a plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide
sequence encoding a peptide as described above, operably linked to
transcription regulatory elements. Upon introduction in a human
tissue said plasmid vector induces the expression in vivo, of the
nucleotide sequence thereby producing the encoded protein. If said
protein elicits an immunogenic response it is referred to as a DNA
vaccine. It is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that
variations or derivatives of the nucleotide sequence can be
produced which alter the nucleotide sequence. The altered
polynucleotide may have an altered nucleic sequence, yet still
encodes a protein as described above, and which reacts with
anti-HCV-related virus antibodies, and is considered a to be
functional equivalent
[0078] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to
a composition as described herein for use as to vaccinate humans
against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain
thereof.
[0079] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention
relates to a composition as described herein for use as to
therapeutically treat humans against infection with HCV-related
virus or any mutated strain thereof.
[0080] A composition of the present invention can be, as
appropiate, any of the preparations described herein, including
peptides, functionally equivalent variants or fragments thereof, a
combination of peptides, or modulators (e.g. as identified in the
bioassay provided herein). Specifically, the term "a composition"
relates to an immunogenic composition capable of eliciting
protection against HCV-related virus, in particular against HCV
and/or HGV, whether partial or complete. The term "as an active
substance" relates to the component of the vaccine composition
which elicits protection against HCV-related viruses, in particular
against HCV and/or HGV. An active substance (e.g. the peptides or
the modulators of the present invention) can be used as such, in a
biotinylated form (as explained in WO 93/18054) and/or complexed to
Neutralite Avidin according to the manufacturer's instruction sheet
(Molecular Probes Inc., Eugene, Oreg.).
[0081] It should also be noted that "a composition" comprises, in
addition to an active substance, a suitable excipient, diluent,
carrier and/or adjuvant which, by themselves, do not induce the
production of antibodies harmful to the individual receiving the
composition nor do they elicit protection. Suitable carriers are
typically large slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins,
polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric
aa's, aa copolymers and inactive virus particles. Such carriers are
well known to those skilled in the art. Preferred adjuvants to
enhance effectiveness of the composition include, but are not
limited to: aluminium hydroxide, aluminium in combination with
3-0-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A as described in WO 93/19780,
aluminium phosphate as described in WO 93/24148,
N-acetyl-muramyl-L-threo- nyl-D-isoglutamine as described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,606,918,
N-acetyl-normuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine,N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-is-
oglutamyl-L-alanine2(1'2'dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-hydroxyphosphoryloxy)
ethylamine and RIBI (ImmunoChem Research Inc., Hamilton, Mont.),
which may contain one or all of the following elements:
monophosphoryl lipid A (detoxified endotoxin),
trehalose-6,6-dimycolate, and cell wall skeleton (MPL+TDM+CWS) in a
2% squalene/Tween 80 emulsion. Any of the three components MPL, TDM
or CWS may also be used alone or combined 2 by 2. Additionally,
adjuvants such as Stimulon (Cambridge Bioscience, Worcester,
Mass.), MF 57 (Chiron) or SAF-1 (Syntex) may be used, as well as
adjuvants such as combinations between QS21 and 3-de-O-acetylated
monophosphoryl lipid A (WO94/00153), or MF-59 (Chiron), or
poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene] based adjuvants (Virus
Research Institute), or blockcopolymer based adjuvants such as
Optivax (Vaxcel) or GammaInulin (Anutech), or Gerbu (Gerbu
Biotechnik). Furthermore, Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) and
Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA) may be used for non-human
applications and research purposes. "A composition" will further
contain excipients and diluents, which are inherently non-toxic and
non-therapeutic, such as water, saline, glycerol, ethanol, wetting
or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, preservatives, and
the like. Typically, a vaccine composition is prepared as an
injectable, either as a liquid solution or suspension. Solid forms,
suitable for solution on, or suspension in, liquid vehicles prior
to injection may also be prepared. The preparation may also be
emulsified or encapsulated in liposomes for enhancing adjuvant
effect. The polypeptides may also be incorporated into Immune
Stimulating Complexes together with saponins, for example Quil A
(ISCOMS). Compositions, which can be used as a vaccine, comprise an
immunologically effective amount of the polypeptides of the present
invention and/or modulators, as well as any other of the
above-mentioned components. "Immunologically effective amount"
means that the administration of that amount to an individual,
either in a single dosis or as part of a series, is effective for
prevention or treatment This amount varies depending upon the
health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, the
taxonomic group of the individual to be treated (e.g. nonhuman
primate, primate, etc.), the capacity of the individual's immune
system to mount an effective immune response, the degree of
protection desired, the formulation of the vaccine, the treating's
doctor assessment, the strain of the infecting HCV and other
relevant factors. It is expected that the amount will fall in a
relatively broad range that can be determined through routine
trials. Usually, the amount will vary from 0.01 to 1000 .mu.g/dose,
more particularly from 0.1 to 100 .mu.g/dose. Compositions, which
can be used as a vaccine are conventionally administered
parenterally, typically by injection, for example, subcutaneously
or intramuscularly.
[0082] In the case of DNA vaccines, particular useful methods for
eliciting an immune response include the coating of gold particles
with the plasmid vector encoding the desired peptide, and injecting
them under high pressure into the epidermis and/or dermis, eg by
means of a device called gene gun (eg as produced by Powderject
Vaccines, Madison, Wis., USA).
[0083] Additional formulations suitable for other methods of
administration include oral formulations and suppositories. Dosage
treatment may be a single dose schedule or a multiple dose
schedule. The vaccine may be administered in conjunction with other
immunoregulatory agents. It should be noted that a vaccine may also
be useful for treatment of an individual, in which case it is used
as a to "therapeutically treat humans".
[0084] As used herein, a "plasmid vector" refers to a nucleic acid
molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it
has been linked. Preferred vectors are those capable of autonomous
replication and/or expression of nucleic acids to which they have
been linked. In general, but not limited to those, plasmid vectors
are circular double stranded DNA loops which, in their vector form,
are not bound to the chromosome. For expression purposes, promoters
are required. For DNA vaccination, a very suitable promoter is the
Major Immediate Early (MIE) of human cytomegalovirus.
[0085] As used herein, a "nucleotide sequence" refers to
polynucleotides such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and, where
appropriate, ribonucleic acid (RNA). The term should also be
understood to include, as equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA
made from nucleotide analogs, and single (sense or antisense) and
double-stranded polynucleotides.
[0086] As used herein, the term "transcription regulatory elements"
refers to a nucleotide sequence which contains essential regulatory
elements, ie such that upon introduction into a living vertebrate
cell it is able to direct the cellular machinery to produce
translation products encoded by the polynucleotide.
[0087] The term "operably linked" refers to a juxtaposition wherein
the components are configured so as to perform their usual
function. Thus, transcription regulatory elements operably linked
to a nucleotide sequence are capable of effecting the expression of
said nucleotide sequence. Those skilled in the art can appreciate
that different transcriptional promoters, terminators, carrier
vectors or specific gene sequences may be used successfully.
[0088] Finally, the present invention provides a method to immunize
humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated
strain thereof, comprising the use of a peptide as described above
or a combination of peptides as described above.
[0089] The present invention will now be illustrated by reference
to the following examples which set forth particularly advantageous
embodiments. However, it should be noted that these embodiments are
illustrative and can not be construed as to restrict the invention
in any way.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
[0090] Synthesis of Multimer E1 and E2 Peptides
[0091] We aimed at synthesizing peptides which would display
epitopes, similar to the ones present on E1 and E2 peptides
expressed in mammalian cells. Since such epitopes do not seem to be
present in E1 and E2 proteins expressed in E. coli, the design of
such peptides was not an easy task. We first aligned E1 and E2
primary amino acid sequences of different HCV genotypes and
delineated variable and constant domains. It was reasoned that
these domains, or a combination of two or more of these domains
might represent conformational domains, ie form or constitute
independent conformational units. If displayed as 3D structure,
these conformational domains may also contain conformational
epitopes. The latter domains may therefore be able to adopt a
native-like structure as is present in the envelope proteins when
these envelope proteins are expressed in mammalian cells. In
contrast, such structures are absent when the envelope proteins are
expressed in prokaryotic cells, like E. coli.
[0092] The following domains were assigned:
[0093] V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6=variable regions; C1, C2, C3, C4
conserved domains; HR=hydrophobic region; SA=signal anchor
sequence; HVRI, HVRII=hypervariable regions of E2.
1 Protein Region Amino acid position E1 V1 192-203 C1 204-217 V2
218-223 C2 224-229 V3 230-242 C3 243-247 V4 248-257 HR 258-293 V5
294-303 C4 304-329 V6 330-342 SA 343-383 E2 HVRI 384-411 C1 412-470
HVRII 471-482 C2 483-521 V3 522-548 C3 549-569 V4 570-580 C4
581-704 SA 705-746
[0094] Based on these domains of the BE11 subtype 1b isolate (SEQ
ID 50 in PCT/EP 95/03031), we designed a series long peptides of 24
to 45 amino acids. For some extended domains of the envelope
proteins more than one multimer peptide was synthesized in order to
encompass the domain of interest. Table 1 gives an overview of the
peptides with their respective amino acid positions; numbering
starts from the first initiation codon of the HCV polyprotein.
Peptides were synthesized using t-Boc technology as explained in
detail in WO 93/18054.
Example 2
[0095] Reactivity of Multimer Peptides with E1 and E2 Antibodies in
Patient Sera
[0096] A series of 60 randomly chosen samples from patients with
chronic active hepatitis C were tested for reactivity with the
multimer peptides. These samples did not show any notable
reactivity with 20-mer peptides except for some 20-mer peptides
derived from the HVRI. For comparison, reactivity with the
hydrophylic ectodomain of E2, the recombinant E2h protein, was
assayed (E2h extends from aa 384-708 and was cloned from SEQ ID NO
45, and expressed and purified as described in PCT/EP 95/03031).
Peptides were coated onto streptavidin-coated plates (5 .mu.g/ml)
and antibodies in serum samples were left to react and detected
using the reagents and procedures as described in the package
insert of the INNOTEST HCV Ab III kit (Innogenetics, Gent,
Belgium). Table 2 shows the results of the ELISA tests, in which a
cutoff of 150 mOD was used. In this series, 5 sera did not show
reactivity with the E2h protein, only one of these reacted with the
HVRI peptide. Five out of 60 sera (8%; e.g. sample 17758) only
reacted with the E2h protein,
[0097] 34 (57%) recognized HVRI 24(40%) reacted with C1-a, 18 (30%)
with C1-b, 21 (35%) with HVRII, 17 (28%) C2-a, 22 (37%) with C2-b,
18 (30%) with C3, 18 (30%) with C3', 17 (28%) with C3", 18 (30%)
with V4, 22 (37%) with C-4, 21 (35%) with C4-a, 35 (58%) with C4-b,
and 24 (40%) with C4-c. This experiment surprisingly learned that,
while none of the samples recognized any of the 20-mer peptides,
except for those derived from the HVRI, 50 out of 55 (91%) E2h
reactive sera could be detected using the peptides of the present
invention.
[0098] In a second series of 23 sera derived from chronic hepatitis
C patients who were long-term responders to interferon-alpha
treatment and 3 HCV infected chimpanzees, E1 and E2 antibodies were
tested. Eighteen out of 23 samples (78%) reacted with recombinant
E1s protein, expressed and purified from mammalian cells as
described in PCT/EP 95/0303 1. Nine samples (39%) reacted with the
C4V6 region, another 9 (39%) with the V1V2 region, and 3 with V2V3
(Table 4). For comparative purposes peptide V5, ie
SQLFTISPRRHETVQD, is shown.
[0099] Different reactivities to E2 were observed (Table 4) as
compared with the first series of samples. 21 samples (91%) reacted
with E2h, with 13 (57%) reactive on HVRI, 9 (39%) with C1-a, 11
(48%) with C1-b, 1 with HVRII, C2-a, and C2-b each, 2 with C3, 3
with C4-a, 4 (17%) with C4-b, and 4 (17%) with C4-c. In this series
of patients with a benign evolution of disease, the C1 region was
more frequently recognized and fewer antibodies to the C4 region
were detected as compared to the series of samples obtained from
patients with chronic active hepatitis. These results indicate that
peptides from the C1, C2, and C4 regions may be particularly useful
in monitoring the course on HCV-related virus disease. More
specifically, antibodies to the Cl region may better neutralize HCV
as compared to anti-C4 antibodies. The C1 domain may therefore be
functionally important, eg exhibit receptor-binding activity.
Neutralization of this region may therefore result in lesser
activity of the disease and may lead to resolvement The E2-C1
region may therefore be particularly useful in therapeutic
interventions. It should also be noted that, once reactivity to a
given domain is established, it can be further mapped to smaller
peptides, e.g. reactivities of 1 chimpanzee serum to C3 could be
mapped to smaller region of 25 amino acids (peptide C3").
Example 3
[0100] Monitoring of E1 and E2 Antibodies in Patients with Response
to Interferon-alpha Therapy
[0101] In Table 5, results of E2 antibody tests as described in
example 2 are given for consecutive samples obtained from patients
with response to interferon therapy. A decline in E2Ab, and to a
larger extend E1Ab, has been described in PCT/EP 95/03031 in case
of a long-term response to interferon treatment. Reactivities to
several peptides of the present invention also show similar
declining levels. Peculiar reactivities could sometimes be detected
as exemplified in patient 2: upon the detection of reappearing
virus, antibody responses to the (E1)V4V5 region and the (E2)HVRII
region could be detected; these quickly disappeared simultaneously
with viral clearance. (E1)V4V5 and (2)HVRII may therefore be
particularly useful peptides for disease monitoring, especially in
treatment of disease. Other peptides such as (E2)C1 (example 2) and
those shown in bold in Table 5 also seem to be useful for purposes
such as monitoring. Table 2 also shows the presence of reactivity
in patient 2 to a new peptide HVRI-C1, which overlaps the junction
between HVRI and C1 (Table 2), in the absence of detectable
reactivity to the HVRI or C1 peptides. Similarly, peptide C4-bc
encompassing the region between C4-b and C4-c (Table 2), was tested
in this series, and showed almost identical reactivities as
compared to peptide C4-b. Therefore, it is possible that the C4-b
epitope lies between aa 658 and 673, but surprisingly, the epitope
does not seem to be presented in peptide SEQ ID 92 of PCT/EP
95/03031 (aa 655-674). The C4-c epitope is not present in C4-bc and
therefore can be localized between aa 683 and 706.
Example 4
[0102] Application to Other Flaviviruses
[0103] To examine the applicability of the invention to envelope
proteins of other HCV-related viruses, a peptide spanning the V1V2
region of the hepatitis G virus (GBV-C; Linnen et al., 1996; Simons
et al., 1996) E1 region was synthesized, see also SEQ ID NO 38
(Table 1): NH2-THACRANGQYFLTNCCAPEDIGFCLEGGCLVALGGK-biotin.
[0104] So far, only reactivity to the complete HGV E2 protein
seemed to be useful in the diagnosis of HGV. Peptide epitopes have
not yet been described for GBV envelope proteins E1 or E2. Sixteen
HGV RNA-positive sera were tested and 1 of these was reactive with
the E1 peptide as shown in Table 6. Antibody reactivity to the
recombinant HGV E2 protein (but not to HGV E2 peptides) is found in
up to 15% of the European population, but cases with both HGV RNA
and E2Ab are rare as they probably represent cases in which
seroconversion and elimination of the virus is ongoing. Antibody
reactivity to the HGV E1 protein has not yet been reported.
Therefore, the HGV E1 peptide V1V2 is new and it may display higher
reactivities in a series of HGV anti-E2 reactive sera. Using
similar approaches as described in the present invention, HGV E2
peptides may also be synthesized. Multimer peptides from GBV-A or
GBV-B can be synthesized in a similar approach as described for HCV
and HGV.
Example 5
[0105] Reactivity of 20-mer E2 Peptides Compared to Multimer E2
Peptides.
[0106] E2 peptides listed in Table 1 were analyzed for their
reactivity with 32 serum samples from patients with chronic active
hepatitis C. In addition, a series of overlapping 20-mer peptides
were synthesized with exactly the same HCV subtype 1b sequence as
used for the longer peptides and as shown in Table 1. The ELISA
test used was the same as described in Example 2. FIGS. 3 and 4
show the reactivities of the series of 20-mer and longer peptides,
respectively. Peptides with a sum of>5 (HVR I HVR I/C1, C1a,
C1b, C4a, C4b, C4c, C4b-c) were considered to be very useful for
the detection of antibodies directed against E2. A total of six of
these peptides (peptides C4b-c and C1a were not included as these
peptides are almost entirely represented by other peptides) were
combined together with 20-mer peptide 1350 (Table 1), which
occasionally reacted with some patient sera. The combination of
these peptides was tested on a panel of 128 sera from chronic
active HCV carriers. Hundred and twenty six of these sera tested
positive on recombinant E2s protein. Of these 126 sera, 33 sera
showed at least two times higher OD values with the peptide mixture
as compared to the recombinant E2 protein, 64 sera showed a similar
reactivity, 16 sera showed reactivities which were 2- to 4-fold
higher with the recombinant protein than with the peptide mixture,
and 13 sera only reacted with the recombinant protein.
[0107] In summary, almost 90% of the sera containing antibodies
against recombinant E2 protein could be detected using the above
peptide mixture. For 26% of the sera, detection was even better
using the peptides of the invention, than using recombinant E2
protein. A sum of OD values of>5, ie exhibited by peptides HVR
I, HVR I/C1, C1a, C1b, C4a, C4b, C4c, and C4b-c (FIG. 4) is
therefore considered a surprisingly high value for the
serodiagnosis of antibodies directed against the E2 protein of HCV.
From the experiment described above, it is also clear that a
combination of recombinant E2 with the peptides of the invention is
a particularly useful composition.
[0108] Given the variability of the E2 protein in different HCV
genotypes, the addition of genotype-specific peptides to
recombinant E2 proteins may be a desired way of improving
sensitivity of E2 antibody assays. For example, a variant of
peptide C1a based on a reported HCV type 2a sequence HC-J6 could be
LINTNGSWHINRTALNCNDSLHTGFLASLFYTHS, and similar useful variants
e.g. based on a genotype 3a sequence, could be synthesized and
tested for reactivity. It should be noted that the HCV E2 protein
may contain insertions or deletions in any given HCV genotype. For
example, while subtype 1a and 1b sequences show contiguous
sequences which can be aligned without having to insert gaps, HCV
type 2a isolates encode E2 proteins which are 4 aa's longer as
compared to type 1 sequences. For example, 2 additional amino acids
are inserted in HCV type 2a and 2b sequences around hypervariable
region II (HVR II). Therefore, a potentially useful variant of
peptide HVRII, based on the HC-J6 prototype 2a sequence, would be
RSIEAFRVGWGALQYEDNVTNPEDMRPYCW, which is a 30-mer peptide while the
subtype 1b sequence-based peptide depicted in Table 1 (SEQ ID 20)
is only 28 aa's long. The two glutamates (symbol E) which are
inserted in the subtype 2a sequence are shown underlined. Similar
peptides can be easily constructed based on sequences and
alignments previously published (e.g. Maertens and Stuyver,
1997).
List of References
[0109] Atherton, Shepard (1989) Solid phase peptide synthesis. IRL
Press, Oxford.
[0110] Chien D, Choo Q-L, Ralston R, Spaete R, Tong M, Houghton M,
Kuo G. Persistence of HCV despite antibodies to both putative
envelope proteins. The Lancet 1993; 342: 933.
[0111] Current protocols in immunology. Eds Coligan J., Kruisbeek
A., Margulis D., Shevach E. And Strober W. Wiley Interscience,
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[0112] Houbenweyl (1974) Methode der organischen chemie, vol. 15, I
& II (ed. Wunch E). Thieme, Stuttgart
[0113] Hsu H, Donets M, Greenberg H., et al. Characterization of
hepatitis C virus structural proteins with a recombinant
baculovirus expression system. Hepatology 1993; 17: 763-71.
[0114] Inoue Y, Suzuki R, Matsuura Y, et al. Expression of the
amino-terminal helf of the NS1 region of the hepatitis C virus
genome and detection of an antibody to the expressed protein in
patients with liver diseases. J. Gen. Virol. 1992; 73: 2151-4.
[0115] Kohara M, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Maki N, et al. Expression and
characterization of glycoprotein gp35 of hepatitis C virus using
recombinant vaccinia virus. J. Gen. Virol. 1992; 73: 2313-8.
[0116] Ling P D, Warren M K, Vogen S N. et al. J. Immunol. 1985;
135: 1857-63.
[0117] Linnen J, Wages J Jr, Zhang-Keck Z, Fry K, Krawczynski K,
Alter H, Koonin E, et al. Molecular cloning and disease association
of hepatitis G virus: a transfusion-transmissible agent. Science
1996; 271: 505-8.
[0118] Maertens, G. and Stuyver, L. (1997) Genotypes and Genetic
variation of hepatitis C virus. In: Molecular Medicine of Hepatitis
(Eds. Zuckerman, A. and Harrison, T.), Molecular Medical Science
Series (Eds. James, K. and Morris A) John Wiley and Sons Ltd.,
Chichester, England, Chapter 13, pp183-233.
[0119] Major M. E. and Feinstone S. M. The molecular virology of
hepatitis C. Hepatology 1997: 25: 1527-1538.
[0120] Maniatis T, Fritsch E, Sambrook J (1982) Molecular cloning:
a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold
Spring Harbor, N.Y.
[0121] Mita E, Hayashi N, Ueda K, et al. Expression of MBP-HCV
NS1/E2 fusion protein in E. coli and detection of anti-NS1/E2
antibody in type C chronic liver disease. Biochem. Biophys. Res
Comm. 1992; 183: 925-30.
[0122] Sambrook J, Fritsch E, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning:
a laboratory manual.Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold
Spring Harbor, N.Y.
[0123] Simons J N, Pilot-Matias T J, Leary T P, Dawson G J, Desai S
M, Schlauder G G, Muerhoff A S, et al. Identification of two
flavivirus-like genomes in the GB hepatitis agent. Proc Natl Acad
Sci USA 1996; 92: 3401-5.
[0124] Wengler G. (1991) Family Flaviviridae. In: `Classification
and Nomenclature of viruses, fifth report of the international
committee on Taxonomy and nomenclature of viruses (Eds. Francki R,
Fauquet C, Knudson D., and Brown F.) Archives of Virology,
Supplementum 2, pp 223-233, Springer-Verlag, Wien, N.Y.
[0125] Yokosuka O, Ito Y, Imazeki F, Ohto M, Omata M. Detection of
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2TABLE 1 GENO SEQ ID PROTEIN TYPE PEPTIDE AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
POSITION NUMBER E1 1a V1V2T1a YQVRNSTGLYHVTNDCPNSSIVYEAADAILHTPGC
192-226 Seq ID 1 1b V1V2T1b YEVRNVSGIYHVTNDCSNSSIVYEAADMIMHTPGC
192-226 Seq ID 2 2c V1V2T2c VEVKNNSNSYMATNDCSNSSIIWQLEGAVLHTPGC
192-226 Seq ID 3 2c V1V2T2c' VEVKNTSTSYMVTNDCSNSSIVWQLEGAVLHTPGC
192-226 Seq ID 4 3a V1V2T3a LEWRNTSGLYVLTNDCSNSSIVYEADDVILHTPGC
192-226 Seq ID 5 3a V2T3a LTNDCSNSSIVYEADDVILHTPGC 203-226 Seq ID 6
4c/4k V1V2T4a INYRNVSGIYHVTNDCPNSSIVYEADHHILHLPGC 192-226 Seq ID 7
5a V1V2T5a VPYRNASGIYHITNDCPNSSIVYEADNL- ILHAPGC 192-226 Seq ID 8
6a V1V2T6a LTYGNSSGLYHLTNDCSNSSIVLEADAMILHLPGC 192-226 Seq ID 9 1b
V2V3 IVYEAADMIMHTPGCVPCVRENNSSRCWV 212-240 Seq ID 10 1b V3V4
VRENNSSRCWVALTPTLAARNASVPTTTIRRHVD 230-263 Seq ID 11 1b PC-V3V4
PCVRENNSSRCWVALTPTLAARNASVPTTTIRRHVD 228-263 Seq ID 12 1b HR
HVDLLVGAAAFCSAMYVGDLCGSVFLVSQL 260-290 Seq ID 13 1b V5C4
SQLFTISPRRHETVQDCNCSIYPGHITGHRMAWDMMMNWS 288-327 Seq ID 14 1b C4V6
SIYPGHITGHRMAWDMMMNWSPTTALVVSQLLRI 307-340 Seq ID 15 1b SA
PQAVVDMVAGAHWGVLAGLAYYSMVGNWAKVLVVMLLFAG- V 341-381 Seq ID 16 1b
V4V5 VALTPTLAARNASVPTTTIRRHVDSQLFT- ISPRRHETVQD 240-303 Seq ID 37
E1(HGV) ND V1V2 THACRANGQYFLTNCCAPEDIGFCLEGGCLVALGGK ND Seq ID 38
E2 1b HVR I HTRVSGGAAASNTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVN 384-415 Seq ID 17 1b
C1a LVNTNGSWHINRTALNCNDSLQTGFFAALFYKHKF 413-447 Seq ID 18 1b C1b
NDSLQTGFFAALFYKHKFNSSGCPERLASCRSIDKFAQ 430-467 Seq ID 19 1b HVR II
RSIDKFAQGWGPLTYTEPNSSDQRPYCW 460-487 Seq ID 20 1b C2a
SDQRPYCWHYAPRPCGIVPASQVCGPVYCFTPSP 480-513 Seq ID 21 1b C2b
SQVCGPVYCFTPSPVVVGTTDRFGVPTYNWG 500-530 Seq ID 22 1b V3C3
GVPTYNWGANDSDVLILNNTRPPRGNWFGCTWMNGTGFTKTCGG 523-566 Seq ID 23 1b
V3C3' ANDSDVLILNNTRPPRGNWFGCTWMNGTG- FTKTCGG 531-566 Seq ID 24 1b
C3" TRPPRGNWFGCTWMNGTGFTKTCG- G 542-566 Seq ID 25 1b V4
TKTCGGPPCNIGGAGNNTLTCPTDCFRKHP 561-590 Seq ID 26 1b C4
TDCFRKHPEATYARCGSGPWLTPRCMVHYPYR- LWHYPCTVNFTIF 583-627 Seq ID 27
1b C4' ARCGSGPWLTPRCMVHYPYRLWHYPCTVNFTIF 595-627 Seq ID 28 1b C4"
LTPRCMVHYPYRLWHYPCTVNFTIF 603-627 Seq ID 29 1b C4a
TVNFTIFKVRMYVGGVEHRFEAACNWTR 621-648 Seq ID 30 1b C4b
EAACNWTRGERCDLEDRDRSELSPLLLSTTEWQ 641-673 Seq ID 31 1b C4c
QWQILPCSFTTLPALSTGLIHLHQNIVDVQYLYGVG 671-706 Seq ID 32 E2 1b SA
GVGSAVVSLVIKWEYVLLLFLLLADARICACLWMMLLIAQAE 704-745 Seq ID 33 1b HVR
I/C1 NTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNTNGSWHINRTALN 395-428 Seq ID 34 1b C4b-c
DRSELSPLLLSTTEWQILPCSFTTLPALSTG 658-688 Seq ID 35 1b 1350
VGTTDRFGVPTYNWGANDSD 516-535 Seq ID 36
[0126]
3TABLE 2 Sample HVR R c # HVR I C1-a C1-b II C2-a C2-b E2-13 B C3
C3' C3" V4 C4 C4-a C4-b C4-c SA E2 17758 69 48 47 52 49 48 47 49 38
44 43 52 44 55 48 46 1355 17763 88 54 44 49 52 48 51 51 46 45 48 49
45 133 104 50 361 17764 100 148 138 134 128 136 141 136 136 65 130
145 144 242 128 127 371 17766 91 97 145 96 80 87 90 90 95 47 75 89
163 139 99 86 173 17771 307 79 54 65 51 50 65 68 50 45 60 65 59 96
132 58 393 17775 49 50 46 39 50 271 43 51 48 45 50 55 52 54 47 50
228 17777 60 133 105 130 129 123 118 118 130 95 119 133 129 357 177
113 850 17779 373 328 285 330 284 343 281 323 316 283 297 318 343
341 309 282 720 17785 81 80 73 71 76 66 81 70 74 70 69 79 79 87 119
73 146 17786 341 863 693 152 164 179 148 139 146 136 137 158 160
163 148 157 720 17788 111 553 120 137 69 121 121 119 111 110 103
140 132 131 48 47 934 17789 1316 49 47 46 49 45 53 51 48 43 42 50
49 52 48 48 1178 17790 234 233 182 223 130 224 185 185 186 184 179
216 218 1347 853 207 1534 17791 269 194 177 192 123 203 172 192 157
184 184 200 195 211 187 190 287 17797 260 264 248 257 240 281 249
237 246 221 223 283 261 272 231 243 1357 17798 52 53 50 47 52 54 50
53 49 51 50 51 50 1036 51 51 1161 17799 225 89 81 86 85 100 76 85
87 82 84 86 92 115 86 76 362 17802 42 51 44 47 50 133 48 52 51 48
51 56 76 773 157 56 882 17807 49 133 60 59 66 62 62 59 57 56 57 63
65 62 57 52 605 17808 89 121 117 109 106 1051 118 875 133 116 123
126 393 228 109 126 1354 17810 327 220 199 222 195 200 221 182 197
182 196 209 266 222 195 199 422 17818 224 134 115 126 118 115 128
108 109 98 111 113 112 117 109 108 230 17821 671 243 214 282 238
232 228 217 234 197 216 222 218 557 810 205 1046 17825 397 320 264
284 282 286 289 277 276 274 276 306 273 391 399 277 514 17826 92
109 111 99 114 126 113 98 104 84 105 121 122 126 145 113 695 17827
45 47 46 47 48 49 48 49 49 47 49 50 50 261 113 47 320 17832 151 65
55 70 78 63 77 72 68 59 64 70 62 54 57 49 288 17838 212 167 166 164
156 165 164 146 160 154 150 165 165 161 272 157 305 17839 48 94 117
61 61 51 58 51 46 52 58 55 87 60 95 66 182 17840 318 323 347 317
329 338 320 305 326 302 312 343 355 322 318 337 417 17842 161 174
185 176 168 163 159 157 163 156 150 168 151 154 138 153 195 17844
122 94 90 88 98 78 92 88 84 77 85 94 61 214 51 73 166 17849 1469 68
75 49 54 629 52 53 46 46 51 54 119 1102 55 47 1393 17870 125 236
148 114 128 133 135 116 132 109 135 151 118 293 120 45 197 17879
209 195 201 222 195 215 225 191 194 181 218 209 209 255 253 199 325
17983 438 54 50 48 52 46 50 54 46 46 51 52 46 55 53 48 216 17999
276 201 200 202 190 187 191 169 176 150 190 205 186 321 535 198 697
8242 162 114 114 127 140 114 120 117 103 120 117 107 112 161 152
128 340 8243 188 191 171 175 204 172 189 174 186 174 176 205 200
206 177 178 225 8247 248 169 137 127 120 110 122 96 111 104 114 128
104 130 150 118 215 8250 129 161 127 150 164 144 154 125 134 122
142 151 125 146 137 140 165 8317 112 131 115 123 113 111 144 95 103
95 108 118 108 158 126 111 198 8320 463 433 337 473 435 445 363 345
503 384 362 369 405 446 432 378 474 8329 119 126 123 160 143 145
142 117 135 121 122 126 131 152 148 132 163 8330 198 271 210 210
207 196 216 178 194 206 209 215 186 356 45 51 536 8332 154 141 128
141 132 116 129 110 123 112 135 140 123 147 312 144 290 8333 57 67
50 51 52 52 50 54 50 50 50 56 48 480 65 52 1108 8334 283 66 64 80
68 69 84 79 65 52 67 74 72 180 191 90 348 8337 162 105 99 108 103
92 104 86 93 80 101 107 108 124 118 110 142 8339 50 49 52 62 54 46
54 51 47 41 51 55 53 413 49 50 247 8344 59 52 50 51 58 48 54 52 47
48 55 53 58 63 63 60 59 8351 163 114 105 111 101 91 98 97 92 78 110
111 115 141 179 112 154 8362 211 54 50 47 55 119 53 53 44 45 51 54
59 60 58 55 165 8364 110 308 106 112 112 107 98 102 108 92 116 152
133 208 169 132 671 8365 69 84 94 67 77 74 55 73 70 69 70 79 73 69
88 66 86 8367 218 189 171 201 204 174 191 156 158 140 183 186 294
197 186 171 303 8374 575 113 95 114 110 93 100 92 106 88 103 125
118 112 111 106 143 8377 364 232 229 225 211 202 233 189 207 170
209 205 230 234 218 221 293 8382 314 211 187 196 207 173 208 181
158 150 181 187 201 223 189 211 265 8383 51 100 102 55 58 48 57 53
53 50 52 57 66 94 63 56 285 V1200 52 55 52 56 55 53 50 54 50 52 51
50 50 52 53 54 50 V1201 118 147 138 136 224 144 123 137 140 111 135
154 166 171 137 155 162 V1202 274 308 284 170 290 286 282 248 277
229 271 306 287 330 268 295 329 V1204 130 134 135 127 141 128 79
113 119 106 131 144 145 144 130 144 159
[0127]
4 TABLE 3 E1 antigens Sample# No peptide V1V2 V2V3 V3V4 HR/SA V5
C4V6 rec E1s No sample 0.011 0.007 0.011 0.014 0.009 0.007 0.009
0.056 30108 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.034 0.032 0.03 0.234 0.378 30109
0.032 0.033 0.035 0.028 0.024 0.026 0.227 0.368 30110 0.021 0.545
0.02 0.019 0.016 0.017 0.047 0.669 30111 0.017 0.614 0.019 0.018
0.017 0.015 0.064 0.796 30112 0.037 0.069 0.035 0.034 0.031 0.031
0.048 0.187 30113 0.042 0.083 0.136 0.039 0.034 0.035 0.063 0.226
30114 0.042 0.099 0.036 0.035 0.035 0.037 0.058 0.267 30115 0.021
0.114 0.023 0.021 0.02 0.02 0.189 0.339 30116 0.019 0.442 0.025
0.022 0.022 0.018 0.056 0.645 30117 0.027 0.062 0.047 0.043 0.041
0.038 0.066 0.164 30118 0.122 0.216 0.126 0.12 0.11 0.125 0.696
0.923 30119 0.023 0.028 0.031 0.028 0.023 0.024 0.23 0.426 30120
0.025 0.024 0.027 0.025 0.039 0.027 0.03 0.024 30121 0.03 0.033
0.033 0.029 0.052 0.034 0.037 0.032 30122 0.029 0.031 0.056 0.03
0.052 0.033 0.035 0.03 30123 0.085 0.081 0.076 0.075 0.087 0.071
0.094 0.137 30124 0.022 0.084 0.022 0.022 0.023 0.022 0.193 0.391
30125 0.095 0.128 0.091 0.089 0.172 0.159 0.47 0.708 17805 0.038
0.051 0.039 0.033 0.09 0.154 0.738 1.169 13059 0.011 0.011 0.012
0.012 0.014 0.012 0.229 0.681 Chimp1 0.095 0.38 0.276 0.126 0.098
0.095 0.099 0.805 Chimp2 0.026 0.234 0.143 0.035 0.036 0.038 0.354
0.822 Chimp3 0.018 0.017 0.02 0.022 0.023 0.019 0.141 0.353
[0128]
5 TABLE 4 E2 antigens Sample peptide HVR I C1-a C1-b HVR II C2-a
C2-b C3 C3' C3" V4 C4 C4-a C4-b C4-c recE2h No sample 0.006 0.009
0.011 0.015 0.007 0.006 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.007 0.007
0.009 0.032 30108 0.036 0.747 0.848 0.969 0.032 0.033 0.03 0.04
0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.041 0.026 0.031 0.988 30109 0.027 0.849 0.93
1.053 0.027 0.032 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.038 0.023 0.026
1.079 30110 0.018 0.026 0.021 0.044 0.019 0.024 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02
0.02 0.03 0.023 0.026 0.056 0.11 30111 0.017 0.02 0.021 0.088 0.018
0.02 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.022 0.028 0.07 0.137 30112
0.037 0.092 0.052 0.177 0.044 0.048 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.05
0.043 0.562 0.053 0.947 30113 0.045 0.104 0.054 0.276 0.051 0.047
0.05 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.054 0.633 0.07 1.003 30114 0.045
0.112 0.075 0.726 0.046 0.041 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.054
0.646 0.067 1.065 30115 0.022 0.982 0.034 0.064 0.025 0.025 0.02
0.03 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.097 0.031 0.413 30116 0.015 0.023
0.02 0.04 0.017 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.023 0.022
0.046 0.084 30117 0.04 0.087 0.048 0.119 0.037 0.044 0.05 0.05 0.03
0.04 0.04 0.04 0.041 0.547 0.049 0.935 30118 0.112 0.213 0.122
0.119 0.119 0.121 0.12 0.12 0.11 0.05 0.11 0.1 0.117 0.105 0.2
0.289 30119 0.03 0.954 1.012 1.128 0.026 0.029 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02
0.03 0.03 0.035 0.026 0.03 1.123 30120 0.031 0.427 0.208 0.208 0.03
0.033 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.033 0.032 0.032 0.577 30121
0.033 0.734 0.463 0.398 0.037 0.042 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.03
0.04 0.034 0.037 0.963 30122 0.03 0.661 0.413 0.365 0.043 0.034
0.03 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.038 0.03 0.034 0.907 30123 0.079
0.11 0.576 0.789 0.09 0.108 0.09 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.07 0.06 0.091
0.078 0.077 0.916 30124 0.02 0.939 0.041 0.065 0.028 0.237 0.04
0.04 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.038 0.108 0.049 0.4 30125 0.096 0.133
0.103 0.096 0.097 0.115 0.15 0.14 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.1 0.1 0.092
0.183 0.227 17805 0.042 0.255 0.074 0.078 0.071 0.045 0.06 0.06
0.05 0.04 0.06 0.04 0.163 0.043 0.831 0.881 13059 0.013 0.47 0.02
0.019 0.018 0.022 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.36 0.052 0.904
0.944 Chimp1 0.102 0.103 0.116 0.118 0.23 0.109 0.12 0.19 0.17 0.19
0.1 0.1 0.087 0.098 0.095 0.581 Chimp2 0.028 0.181 0.267 0.261
0.056 0.032 0.03 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.188 0.035 0.033 1.008
Chimp3 0.058 0.035 0.162 0.086 0.026 0.062 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.02 0.03
0.03 0.023 0.02 0.026 1.327
[0129]
6TABLE 5 HCV E1 peptides Sample PCR Genotype V1V2 V2V3 V3V4 V4V5
HR/SA V5C4 C4V6 E1s Patient 1 14/8/90 pos 3a 0.014 0.03 0.06 0.034
0.037 0.048 0.045 0.051 01/06/91 0.03 0.032 0.064 0.041 0.041 0.051
0.048 0.045 20/9/91 neg 0.06 0.064 0.064 0.037 0.039 0.05 0.398
0.045 13/3/92 0.034 0.041 0.037 0.034 0.037 0.046 0.044 0.04
04/09/92 neg 0.037 0.041 0.039 0.037 0.037 0.052 0.048 0.043
24/9/93 0.048 0.051 0.05 0.046 0.052 0.048 0.047 0.042 20/10/94 neg
0.045 0.048 0.398 0.044 0.048 0.047 0.045 0.041 23/10/95 0.051
0.045 0.045 0.04 0.043 0.042 0.041 0.051 10/12/96 pos? 0.037 0.041
0.033 0.034 0.035 0.039 0.038 0.045 Patient 2 15/2/90 0.106 0.103
0.104 0.108 0.104 0.949 0.872 1.03 03/05/90 pos 1a 0.103 0.109
0.106 0.104 0.108 0.828 0.859 1.04 04/12/90 0.096 0.103 0.105 0.103
0.095 0.737 0.848 1.218 23/9/91 0.063 0.078 0.078 0.067 0.072 0.318
0.354 0.66 14/4/92 0.099 0.106 0.099 0.1 0.096 0.219 0.255 0.491
18/12/92 0.104 0.106 0.102 0.105 0.101 0.222 0.249 0.448 26/3/93
0.089 0.095 0.09 0.085 0.082 0.168 0.194 0.357 30/9/93 neg 0.092
0.081 0.089 0.09 0.088 0.17 0.18 0.35 17/6/94 pos 1a 0.084 0.09
0.096 0.599 0.095 0.154 0.166 0.32 18/12/95 0.072 0.077 0.077 0.077
0.081 0.111 0.121 0.206 23/12/96 neg 0.065 0.078 0.074 0.073 0.078
0.106 0.108 0.199 Patient 3 15/04/93 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.004 0.006
0.005 0.006 0.007 06/09/94 pos 3a 0.007 0.008 0.007 0.008 0.007
0.006 0.006 0.009 30/10/95 neg 0.007 0.01 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.008
0.007 0.011 18/11/96 pos? 1b 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.01 0.009
0.009 0.012 Patient 4 12/04/91 pos 1a 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.006 0.007
0.006 0.006 0.01 23/09/91 neg 0.01 0.01 0.008 0.009 0.009 0.006
0.008 0.013 27/07/92 neg 0.007 0.009 0.007 0.008 0.007 0.006 0.007
0.01 11/06/93 neg 0.009 0.011 0.009 0.01 0.009 0.007 0.006 0.011
29/11/96 pos 1a 0.007 0.01 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.005 0.006 0.008
Patient 5 18/09/92 pos 0.017 0.01 0.008 0.007 0.008 0.178 0.196
0.537 17/12/93 neg 0.012 0.014 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.039 0.04 0.231
15/11/96 neg 0.012 0.014 0.012 0.01 0.01 0.026 0.017 0.116 Patient
6 10/05/90 pos 0.311 0.006 0.007 0.005 0.006 0.004 0.01 0.544
11/10/91 neg 0.284 0.007 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.013 0.605
Patient 7 10/10/91 pos 1b 0.009 0.01 0.009 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.01
0.043 18/12/92 neg 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.009 0.009 0.008 0.011 0.043
28/06/93 neg 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.007 0.005 0.008 0.021
10/03/97 pos 1b 0.008 0.008 0.007 0.008 0.007 0.006 0.008 0.012
Patient 8 19/08/91 neg 0.008 0.009 0.008 0.008 0.008 0.006 0.008
0.009 17/07/95 pos 1b 0.01 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.006 0.007 0.007
0.018 09/10/95 pos 1b 0.007 0.007 0.008 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.007
0.009 15/12/95 neg 0.008 0.009 0.008 0.009 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.011
04/03/96 neg 0.009 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.009 0.008 0.007 0.01 02/09/96
neg 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.008 0.008 0.013 Patient 9 26/08/91
pos 1b/2ac 0.044 0.015 0.022 0.023 0.028 0.031 0.034 0.115 21/12/93
neg 0.033 0.017 0.021 0.027 0.022 0.025 0.023 0.048 20/12/94 pos 1b
0.023 0.016 0.015 0.028 0.019 0.028 0.034 0.077 21/12/95 pos 1b
0.019 0.029 0.024 0.027 0.027 0.031 0.034 0.048 Patient 10 27/04/92
pos 1b 0.128 0.024 0.02 0.023 0.026 0.118 0.449 0.68 01/06/93 neg
0.107 0.03 0.029 0.027 0.026 0.098 0.385 0.667 Patient 11 09/11/90
neg 0.018 0.019 0.012 0.013 0.015 0.087 0.141 0.591 12/07/91 pos 1b
0.023 0.023 0.016 0.02 0.018 0.073 0.1 0.466 28/05/93 pos 0.008
0.009 0.009 0.005 0.008 0.123 0.173 0.495 20/01/95 neg 0.011 0.009
0.008 0.007 0.007 0.026 0.047 0.187 08/01/96 neg 0.012 0.013 0.01
0.009 0.009 0.025 0.031 0.21 07/02/97 neg 0.019 0.019 0.014 0.014
0.013 0.027 0.051 0.203 Patient 12 11/05/92 pos 1b 0.017 0.013
0.011 0.014 0.015 0.227 0.173 0.425 26/02/93 neg 0.022 0.014 0.013
0.013 0.014 0.178 0.264 0.417 12/08/93 pos 1b 0.016 0.016 0.016
0.014 0.015 0.29 0.387 0.63 Patient 13 07/01/91 pos 1b 0.027 0.017
0.021 0.026 0.026 0.04 0.074 0.062 19/08/91 neg 0.018 0.018 0.015
0.013 0.012 0.021 0.009 0.043 21/08/92 pos 0.015 0.012 0.015 0.014
0.017 0.015 0.021 0.023 06/08/93 neg 0.019 0.018 0.016 0.021 0.016
0.01 0.011 0.02 06/03/95 pos 1b 0.027 0.026 0.018 0.015 0.018 0.02
0.023 0.028 12/04/96 neg 0.03 0.017 0.018 0.036 0.021 0.027 0.027
0.022 Patient 14 22/11/94 pos 1b 0.016 0.011 0.013 0.013 0.026
0.318 0.437 0.461 11/10/95 pos 0.024 0.014 0.014 0.018 0.019 0.039
0.061 0.059 15/02/96 neg 0.032 0.022 0.021 0.023 0.016 0.031 0.041
0.102 Patient 15 04/12/90 pos 1b 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.004 0.005
0.005 0.005 0.019 29/11/90 neg 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.006 0.005 0.008
0.006 0.011 09/10/92 pos 1b 0.006 0.008 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.006
0.005 0.012 25/03/96 neg 0.006 0.008 0.007 0.006 0.006 0.004 0.007
0.012 Patient 16 16/12/91 pos 3a 0.003 0.004 0.006 0.004 0.004 0.08
0.102 0.435 04/10/93 neg 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.006 0.008 0.028 0.033
0.253 12/09/94 neg 0.004 0.008 0.006 0.005 0.005 0.034 0.038 0.197
09/09/96 neg 0.004 0.008 0.007 0.006 0.005 0.008 0.013 0.08 Patient
17 24/04/97 pos 1b 0.076 0.006 0.008 0.004 0.009 0.203 0.327 1.196
Patient 18 08/01/97 neg 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.006 0.006 0.008
0.009 Blank 0.006 0.009 0.009 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.006 0.009
[0130]
7TABLE 6 Sample# Blank E1 V1V2 20188 68 74 20189 77 73 20251 170
150 20252 490 1319 20253 92 70 20254 50 55 20255 81 88 20256 56 62
20266 119 134 20271 77 78 20272 61 69 21010 129 135 21011 159 161
21012 120 93 21286 108 105
[0131]
Sequence CWU 1
1
41 1 35 PRT Hepatitis C virus 1 Tyr Gln Val Arg Asn Ser Thr Gly Leu
Tyr His Val Thr Asn Asp Cys 1 5 10 15 Pro Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr
Glu Ala Ala Asp Ala Ile Leu His Thr 20 25 30 Pro Gly Cys 35 2 35
PRT Hepatitis C virus 2 Tyr Glu Val Arg Asn Val Ser Gly Ile Tyr His
Val Thr Asn Asp Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala
Ala Asp Met Ile Met His Thr 20 25 30 Pro Gly Cys 35 3 35 PRT
Hepatitis C virus 3 Val Glu Val Lys Asn Asn Ser Asn Ser Tyr Met Ala
Thr Asn Asp Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Ser Ser Ile Ile Trp Gln Leu Glu
Gly Ala Val Leu His Thr 20 25 30 Pro Gly Cys 35 4 35 PRT Hepatitis
C virus 4 Val Glu Val Lys Asn Thr Ser Thr Ser Tyr Met Val Thr Asn
Asp Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Trp Gln Leu Glu Gly Ala
Val Leu His Thr 20 25 30 Pro Gly Cys 35 5 35 PRT Hepatitis C virus
5 Leu Glu Trp Arg Asn Thr Ser Gly Leu Tyr Val Leu Thr Asn Asp Cys 1
5 10 15 Ser Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala Asp Asp Val Ile Leu His
Thr 20 25 30 Pro Gly Cys 35 6 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 6 Leu Thr
Asn Asp Cys Ser Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala Asp Asp 1 5 10 15
Val Ile Leu His Thr Pro Gly Cys 20 7 35 PRT Hepatitis C virus 7 Ile
Asn Tyr Arg Asn Val Ser Gly Ile Tyr His Val Thr Asn Asp Cys 1 5 10
15 Pro Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala Asp His His Ile Leu His Leu
20 25 30 Pro Gly Cys 35 8 35 PRT Hepatitis C virus 8 Val Pro Tyr
Arg Asn Ala Ser Gly Ile Tyr His Ile Thr Asn Asp Cys 1 5 10 15 Pro
Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala Asp Asn Leu Ile Leu His Ala 20 25
30 Pro Gly Cys 35 9 35 PRT Hepatitis C virus 9 Leu Thr Tyr Gly Asn
Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr His Leu Thr Asn Asp Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Asn Ser
Ser Ile Val Leu Glu Ala Asp Ala Met Ile Leu His Leu 20 25 30 Pro
Gly Cys 35 10 29 PRT Hepatitis C virus 10 Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala Ala
Asp Met Ile Met His Thr Pro Gly Cys Val 1 5 10 15 Pro Cys Val Arg
Glu Asn Asn Ser Ser Arg Cys Trp Val 20 25 11 34 PRT Hepatitis C
virus 11 Val Arg Glu Asn Asn Ser Ser Arg Cys Trp Val Ala Leu Thr
Pro Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn Ala Ser Val Pro Thr Thr Thr
Ile Arg Arg His 20 25 30 Val Asp 12 36 PRT Hepatitis C virus 12 Pro
Cys Val Arg Glu Asn Asn Ser Ser Arg Cys Trp Val Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10
15 Pro Thr Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn Ala Ser Val Pro Thr Thr Thr Ile Arg
20 25 30 Arg His Val Asp 35 13 30 PRT Hepatitis C virus 13 His Val
Asp Leu Leu Val Gly Ala Ala Ala Phe Cys Ser Ala Met Tyr 1 5 10 15
Val Gly Asp Leu Cys Gly Ser Val Phe Leu Val Ser Gln Leu 20 25 30 14
40 PRT Hepatitis C virus 14 Ser Gln Leu Phe Thr Ile Ser Pro Arg Arg
His Glu Thr Val Gln Asp 1 5 10 15 Cys Asn Cys Ser Ile Tyr Pro Gly
His Ile Thr Gly His Arg Met Ala 20 25 30 Trp Asp Met Met Met Asn
Trp Ser 35 40 15 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 15 Ser Ile Tyr Pro Gly
His Ile Thr Gly His Arg Met Ala Trp Asp Met 1 5 10 15 Met Met Asn
Trp Ser Pro Thr Thr Ala Leu Val Val Ser Gln Leu Leu 20 25 30 Arg
Ile 16 41 PRT Hepatitis C virus 16 Pro Gln Ala Val Val Asp Met Val
Ala Gly Ala His Trp Gly Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Leu Ala Tyr Tyr
Ser Met Val Gly Asn Trp Ala Lys Val Leu 20 25 30 Val Val Met Leu
Leu Phe Ala Gly Val 35 40 17 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 17 His Thr
Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asn Thr Arg Gly Leu 1 5 10 15
Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn 20
25 30 18 35 PRT Hepatitis C virus 18 Leu Val Asn Thr Asn Gly Ser
Trp His Ile Asn Arg Thr Ala Leu Asn 1 5 10 15 Cys Asn Asp Ser Leu
Gln Thr Gly Phe Phe Ala Ala Leu Phe Tyr Lys 20 25 30 His Lys Phe 35
19 38 PRT Hepatitis C virus 19 Asn Asp Ser Leu Gln Thr Gly Phe Phe
Ala Ala Leu Phe Tyr Lys His 1 5 10 15 Lys Phe Asn Ser Ser Gly Cys
Pro Glu Arg Leu Ala Ser Cys Arg Ser 20 25 30 Ile Asp Lys Phe Ala
Gln 35 20 28 PRT Hepatitis C virus 20 Arg Ser Ile Asp Lys Phe Ala
Gln Gly Trp Gly Pro Leu Thr Tyr Thr 1 5 10 15 Glu Pro Asn Ser Ser
Asp Gln Arg Pro Tyr Cys Trp 20 25 21 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 21
Ser Asp Gln Arg Pro Tyr Cys Trp His Tyr Ala Pro Arg Pro Cys Gly 1 5
10 15 Ile Val Pro Ala Ser Gln Val Cys Gly Pro Val Tyr Cys Phe Thr
Pro 20 25 30 Ser Pro 22 31 PRT Hepatitis C virus 22 Ser Gln Val Cys
Gly Pro Val Tyr Cys Phe Thr Pro Ser Pro Val Val 1 5 10 15 Val Gly
Thr Thr Asp Arg Phe Gly Val Pro Thr Tyr Asn Trp Gly 20 25 30 23 44
PRT Hepatitis C virus 23 Gly Val Pro Thr Tyr Asn Trp Gly Ala Asn
Asp Ser Asp Val Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Leu Asn Asn Thr Arg Pro Pro Arg
Gly Asn Trp Phe Gly Cys Thr Trp 20 25 30 Met Asn Gly Thr Gly Phe
Thr Lys Thr Cys Gly Gly 35 40 24 36 PRT Hepatitis C virus 24 Ala
Asn Asp Ser Asp Val Leu Ile Leu Asn Asn Thr Arg Pro Pro Arg 1 5 10
15 Gly Asn Trp Phe Gly Cys Thr Trp Met Asn Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Lys
20 25 30 Thr Cys Gly Gly 35 25 25 PRT Hepatitis C virus 25 Thr Arg
Pro Pro Arg Gly Asn Trp Phe Gly Cys Thr Trp Met Asn Gly 1 5 10 15
Thr Gly Phe Thr Lys Thr Cys Gly Gly 20 25 26 30 PRT Hepatitis C
virus 26 Thr Lys Thr Cys Gly Gly Pro Pro Cys Asn Ile Gly Gly Ala
Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 Asn Thr Leu Thr Cys Pro Thr Asp Cys Phe Arg Lys
His Pro 20 25 30 27 45 PRT Hepatitis C virus 27 Thr Asp Cys Phe Arg
Lys His Pro Glu Ala Thr Tyr Ala Arg Cys Gly 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Pro
Trp Leu Thr Pro Arg Cys Met Val His Tyr Pro Tyr Arg 20 25 30 Leu
Trp His Tyr Pro Cys Thr Val Asn Phe Thr Ile Phe 35 40 45 28 33 PRT
Hepatitis C virus 28 Ala Arg Cys Gly Ser Gly Pro Trp Leu Thr Pro
Arg Cys Met Val His 1 5 10 15 Tyr Pro Tyr Arg Leu Trp His Tyr Pro
Cys Thr Val Asn Phe Thr Ile 20 25 30 Phe 29 25 PRT Hepatitis C
virus 29 Leu Thr Pro Arg Cys Met Val His Tyr Pro Tyr Arg Leu Trp
His Tyr 1 5 10 15 Pro Cys Thr Val Asn Phe Thr Ile Phe 20 25 30 28
PRT Hepatitis C virus 30 Thr Val Asn Phe Thr Ile Phe Lys Val Arg
Met Tyr Val Gly Gly Val 1 5 10 15 Glu His Arg Phe Glu Ala Ala Cys
Asn Trp Thr Arg 20 25 31 33 PRT Hepatitis C virus 31 Glu Ala Ala
Cys Asn Trp Thr Arg Gly Glu Arg Cys Asp Leu Glu Asp 1 5 10 15 Arg
Asp Arg Ser Glu Leu Ser Pro Leu Leu Leu Ser Thr Thr Glu Trp 20 25
30 Gln 32 36 PRT Hepatitis C virus 32 Gln Trp Gln Ile Leu Pro Cys
Ser Phe Thr Thr Leu Pro Ala Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Leu Ile His
Leu His Gln Asn Ile Val Asp Val Gln Tyr Leu 20 25 30 Tyr Gly Val
Gly 35 33 42 PRT Hepatitis C virus 33 Gly Val Gly Ser Ala Val Val
Ser Leu Val Ile Lys Trp Glu Tyr Val 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu
Leu Leu Ala Asp Ala Arg Ile Cys Ala Cys Leu 20 25 30 Trp Met Met
Leu Leu Ile Ala Gln Ala Glu 35 40 34 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 34
Asn Thr Arg Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala Gln Lys 1 5
10 15 Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr Asn Gly Ser Trp His Ile Asn Arg Thr
Ala 20 25 30 Leu Asn 35 31 PRT Hepatitis C virus 35 Asp Arg Ser Glu
Leu Ser Pro Leu Leu Leu Ser Thr Thr Glu Trp Gln 1 5 10 15 Ile Leu
Pro Cys Ser Phe Thr Thr Leu Pro Ala Leu Ser Thr Gly 20 25 30 36 20
PRT Hepatitis C virus 36 Val Gly Thr Thr Asp Arg Phe Gly Val Pro
Thr Tyr Asn Trp Gly Ala 1 5 10 15 Asn Asp Ser Asp 20 37 40 PRT
Hepatitis C virus 37 Val Ala Leu Thr Pro Thr Leu Ala Ala Arg Asn
Ala Ser Val Pro Thr 1 5 10 15 Thr Thr Ile Arg Arg His Val Asp Ser
Gln Leu Phe Thr Ile Ser Pro 20 25 30 Arg Arg His Glu Thr Val Gln
Asp 35 40 38 36 PRT Hepatitis C virus 38 Thr His Ala Cys Arg Ala
Asn Gly Gln Tyr Phe Leu Thr Asn Cys Cys 1 5 10 15 Ala Pro Glu Asp
Ile Gly Phe Cys Leu Glu Gly Gly Cys Leu Val Ala 20 25 30 Leu Gly
Gly Lys 35 39 16 PRT Hepatitis C virus 39 Ser Gln Leu Phe Thr Ile
Ser Pro Arg Arg His Glu Thr Val Gln Asp 1 5 10 15 40 35 PRT
Hepatitis C virus 40 Leu Ile Asn Thr Asn Gly Ser Trp His Ile Asn
Arg Thr Ala Leu Asn 1 5 10 15 Cys Asn Asp Ser Leu His Thr Gly Phe
Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Tyr Thr 20 25 30 His Ser Phe 35 41 30 PRT
Hepatitis C virus 41 Arg Ser Ile Glu Ala Phe Arg Val Gly Trp Gly
Ala Leu Gln Tyr Glu 1 5 10 15 Asp Asn Val Thr Asn Pro Glu Asp Met
Arg Pro Tyr Cys Trp 20 25 30
* * * * *