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.

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.