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 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . An isolated HCV E1 envelope peptide as defined by any of SEQ ID Nos:1-16 and 37.  
     
     
         24 . An isolated HCV E1 envelope peptide consisting of up to 45 contiguous amino acids wherein an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos:1-16 and 37 is present in said peptide.  
     
     
         25 . An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of: 
 a peptide of 21 to 23 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:6;    a peptide of 21 to 28 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:10;    a peptide of 21 to 30 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:13;    a peptide of 21 to 33 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:11 or 15;    a peptide of 21 to 34 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NOs:1-5 or 7-9;    a peptide of 21 to 35 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:12;    a peptide of 21 to 39 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:14 or 37;    a peptide of 21 to 40 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:16.    
     
     
         26 . A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to  claim 23 .  
     
     
         27 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising: 
 optionally, a solid support,    at least one peptide according to  claim 23 , and    optionally, markers which allow detection of complexes formed between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with said at least one peptide.    
     
     
         28 . A bioassay for identifying a compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide according to  claim 23  and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said bioassay comprising 
 (i) contacting said peptide with said anti-HCV-related virus antibody;    (ii) after (i), determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody;    (iii) adding said compound or a combination of said compounds to the peptide-antibody complex formed in (i);    (iv) after (iii), determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody; and    (v) inferring, from (ii) and (iv) the modulation of binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody by said added compound or said added combination of compounds.    
     
     
         29 . A bioassay for identifying a compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide according to  claim 23  and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said bioassay comprising 
 (i) determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody;    (ii) contacting said peptide with said compound;    (iii) adding said anti-HCV-related virus antibody to the peptide-compound complex formed in (ii);    (iv) after (iii), determining the binding between said peptide and said compound;    (v) inferring, from (i) and (iv) the modulation of binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody by said compound.    
     
     
         30 . The isolated peptide of  claim 23  which is synthesized chemically.  
     
     
         31 . The isolated peptide of  claim 23  which is synthesized using recombinant DNA techniques.  
     
     
         32 . The isolated peptide of  claim 31  wherein said peptide is synthesized using a plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding said peptide operably linked to transcription regulatory elements.  
     
     
         33 . The isolated peptide of  claim 23  which is biotinylated or which is containing cysteine bridges.  
     
     
         34 . The isolated peptide of  claim 23  which binds and recognizes anti-HCV virus antibodies.  
     
     
         35 . The isolated peptide of  claim 33  which binds and recognizes anti-HCV virus antibodies.  
     
     
         36 . A combination of peptides comprising a peptide of  claim 23 .  
     
     
         37 . A combination of peptides comprising a peptide of  claim 33 .  
     
     
         38 . A combination of peptides comprising a peptide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         39 . A composition comprising an isolated peptide of  claim 23 .  
     
     
         40 . A composition comprising an isolated peptide of  claim 33 .  
     
     
         41 . A composition comprising an isolated peptide of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         42 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising at least one peptide of  claim 23 .  
     
     
         43 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of  claim 33 .  
     
     
         44 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of  claim 34 .  
     
     
         45 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of  claim 36 .  
     
     
         46 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of  claim 37 .  
     
     
         47 . A method of raising an immune response in a human against hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to  claim 23 .  
     
     
         48 . A method of raising an immune response in a human against hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to  claim 30 .  
     
     
         49 . A method of raising an immune response in a human against hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to  claim 31 .  
     
     
         50 . A method of raising an immune response in a human against hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to  claim 32 .  
     
     
         51 . A method of raising an immune response in a human against hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to  claim 33 .  
     
     
         52 . A method of raising an immune response in a human against hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said human a combination of peptides according to  claim 23 .  
     
     
         53 . A method for diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV viruses comprising: 
 contacting anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with at least one peptide according to  claim 23 , determining the binding of anti-HCV virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with said at least one peptide.    
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 53  wherein said anti-HCV virus antibodies are anti-HCV antibodies.  
     
     
         55 . An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising: 
 optionally, a solid support,    at least one peptide according to  claim 23 , and    optionally, markers which allow detection of complexes formed between anti-HCV antibodies within a sample of body fluid with said at least one peptide.    
     
     
         56 . A bioassay for identifying a compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide according to  claim 23  and an anti-HCV antibody, said bioassay comprising 
 (i) contacting said peptide with said anti-HCV antibody;    (ii) after (i), determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV antibody;    (iii) adding said compound or a combination of said compounds to the peptide-antibody complex formed in (i);    (iv) after (iii), determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV antibody; and    (v) inferring, from (ii) and (iv) the modulation of binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV antibody by said added compound or said added combination of compounds.    
     
     
         57 . A bioassay for identifying a compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide according to  claim 23  and an anti-HCV antibody, said bioassay comprising 
 (i) determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV antibody;    (ii) contacting said peptide with said compound;    (iii) adding said anti-HCV-related virus antibody to the peptide-compound complex formed in (ii);    (iv) after (iii), determining the binding between said peptide and said compound;    (v) inferring, from (i) and (iv) the modulation of binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV antibody by said compound.