The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Federal Budgetary Research Institution State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “vector”

Marian Elaine Major

Stephen M Feinstone

Jay A Berzofsky

Pablo Sarobe

Pei Zhang

C David Pendleton

Alla Kachko

Hongying Duan

Galina Vadimovna Kochneva

Novel epitope regions on hepatitis C virus E1E2 glycoprotein that induce a neutralizing antibody response in vivo are identified. Cross-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that bind specifically to the epitopes are disclosed.

Hepatitis C virus neutralizing antibodies and methods

A specific epitope on the surface of the hepatitis C virus that induces a neutralizing antibody response in vivo and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that bind specifically to the epitope are disclosed. The antibodies block hepatitis C virus from infecting cells.

Hepatitis C virus neutralizing antibody

Aspects of the present invention concern compositions that induce and/or improve an immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods of making and using compositions that include epitopes of the HCV E2 structural protein involved in promoting or inhibiting neutralization of HCV are provided.

Neutralization of HCV

Provided are an isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence DLMGYIPAV (SEQ ID NO: 1), an isolated HCV core polypeptide comprising an L&#x2192;A substitution at amino acid position 139, an isolated HCV core polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and a fragment of an HCV core polypeptide having fewer amino acids than the entire HCV core polypeptide and comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the peptides and polypeptides of this invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acids of this invention and cells comprising the vectors and nucleic acids of this invention. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response in a subject and/or treating or preventing HCV infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject, or to a cell of the subject, any of the compositions of this invention.

Modified HCV peptide immunogens

Modified HCV peptide vaccines

The present invention provides 1) an isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence DLMGYIPAV, (SEQ ID NO: 1); 2) an isolated HCV core polypeptide comprising an L&rarr;A substitution at amino acid position 139; 3) an isolated HCV core polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and 4) a fragment of an HCV core polypeptide having fewer amino acids than the entire HCV core polypeptide and comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the peptides and polypeptides of this invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acids of this invention and cells comprising the vectors and nucleic acids of this invention. The present invention further provides methods of producing an immune response in a subject and/or treating or preventing HCV infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject, or to a cell of the subject, any of the compositions of this invention.

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Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Marian Elaine Major