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. 1991 Jun 15;88(12):5462–5466. doi: 10.1073/pnas.88.12.5462

Identification of an immunodominant epitope within the capsid protein of hepatitis C virus.

M S Nasoff 1, S L Zebedee 1, G Inchauspé 1, A M Prince 1
PMCID: PMC51893  PMID: 1711232

Abstract

We have isolated cDNA clones from the 5' end of the Hutchinson strain of hepatitis C virus. Sequences encoding various segments of the HCV structural region were fused to the gene for glutathione S-transferase and analyzed for the expression of hepatitis C virus-capsid fusion proteins. With a set of these fusion proteins, both human and chimpanzee immune responses to capsid were studied. An immunodominant epitope was located within the amino-terminal portion of capsid that is preferentially recognized by antibodies in both human and chimpanzee hepatitis C virus-positive sera. In addition, analyses of sequential serum samples taken from humans and chimpanzees with either chronic or apparently self-limited infections revealed that a strong anti-capsid response develops rapidly after onset of infection.

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Selected References

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