Washington University

Alexander A Kolykhalov

Charles Moen Rice, Iii

Charles Iii Rice

The present invention relates to the determination of an authentic HCV genome RNA sequences, to construction of infectious HCV DNA clones, and to use of the clones, or their derivatives, in therapeutic, vaccine, and diagnostic applications. The invention is also directed to HCV vectors, e.g., for gene therapy of gene vaccines.

Functional DNA clone for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and uses thereof

The invention relates to the discovery of a novel RNA sequence at the 3' terminal sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome RNA. Included in the invention are the 3&#x2032; sequence, its complement, and their use for nucleic-acid based diagnostics and for developing and evaluating novel anti-HCV therapies. This sequence element, which is conserved among HCV genotypes, is likely to be essential for viral replication, and required for construction of full-length HCV cDNA clones capable of yielding infectious RNA, progeny virus or replication-competent HCV replicons. Such functional clones are useful tools for evaluation of therapeutic approaches and as substrates for developing candidate attenuated or inactivated HCV derivatives for vaccination against HCV.

3'terminal sequence of hepatitis C virus genome and diagnostic and therapeutic uses thereof

The present invention relates to the determination of an authentic HCV genome RNA sequences, to construction of infectious HCV DNA clones, and to use of the clones, or their derivatives, in therapeutic, vaccines, and diagnostic applications. The invention is also directed to HCV vectors, e.g., for gene therapy of gene vaccines.

The invention relates to the discovery of a novel RNA sequence at the 3&prime; terminal sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome RNA. Included in the invention are the 3&prime; sequence, its complement, and their use for nucleic-acid based diagnostics and for developing and evaluating novel anti-HCV therapies. This sequence element, which is conserved among HCV genotypes, is likely to be essential for viral replication, and required for construction of full-length HCV cDNA clones capable of yielding infectious RNA, progeny virus or replication-competent HCV replicons. Such functional clones are useful tools for evaluation of therapeutic approaches and as substrates for developing candidate attenuated or inactivated HCV derivatives for vaccination against HCV.

Methods for the detection of a novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) terminal 3&prime; noncoding region

The invention relates to the discovery of a novel RNA sequence at the 3' terminal sequence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome RNA. Included in the invention are the 3' sequence, its complement, and their use for nucleic-acid based diagnostics and for developing and evaluating novel anti-HCV therapies. This sequence element, which is conserved among HCV genotypes, is likely to be essential for viral replication, and required for construction of full-length HCV cDNA clones capable of yielding infections RNA, progeny virus or replication-competent HCV replicons. Such functional clones are useful tools for evaluation of therapeutic approaches and as substrates for developing candidate attenuated or inactivated HCV derivatives for vaccination against HCV.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Alexander A Kolykhalov