Eliciting HCV-specific antibodies

Abstract

Described herein is a method of eliciting antibodies and neutralizing of binding antibodies against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 or E2 antigen using HCV E2 or HCV E1E2 polypeptides and/or HCV E2 or E1E2 polynucleotides. Elicitation of anti-E2 antibodies and anti-E2 NOB antibodies can be used, inter alia, to provide model systems to optimize anti-E2 antibody responses and/or anti-E2 NOB antibody responses to HCV and to provide prophylactic or therapeutic treatment against HCV infection.

1 . A composition comprising an E1E2 polypeptide, a pharmaceutically: acceptable vehicle and an adjuvant, wherein said E1E2 polypeptide is expressed from a polynucleotide encoding amino acids 192-809 of the HCV polyprotein, numbered relative to the HCV-1 polyprotein.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the adjuvant is a submicron oil-in-water emulsion.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the submicron oil-in-water emulsion is MF-59.  
     
     
         4 . A method of eliciting an immune response against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope antigen in a vertebrate subject, said method comprising administering the composition of  claim 1  to said subject.  
     
     
         5 . A method of eliciting an immune response against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope antigen in a vertebrate subject, said method comprising administering the composition of  claim 2  to said subject.  
     
     
         6 . A method of eliciting an immune response against a hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope antigen in a vertebrate subject, said method comprising administering the composition of  claim 3  to said subject.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the immune response is a humoral immune response.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is infected with an HCV.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is not infected with an HCV.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is a mammal.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mammal is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a rabbit, a guinea pig, a macaque, a baboon, a chimpanzee, and a human.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the polynucleotide is administered by a method selected from the group consisting of intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, oral, and intradermal administration.