Hepatitis C receptor protein CD81

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of CD81 protein and polynucleic acid in the therapy and diagnosis of hepatitis C and pharmaceutical compositions, animal models and diagnostic kits for such purposes.

1 . A transgenic, non-human mammal comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a CD81 protein. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic, non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a mouse. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic, non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleotide sequence is the human CD81 nucleotide sequence. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic, non-human mammal of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleotide sequence is the human CD81 nucleotide sequence. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a transgenic non-human mammal comprising introducing a nucleotide sequence encoding a CD81 protein into the embryo of said non-human mammal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-human mammal is a mouse. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleotide sequence is a CD81 nucleotide sequence. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the nucleotide sequence is a CD81 nucleotide sequence. 
     
     
         9 . The transgenic, non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal provides for ubiquitous expression of CD81. 
     
     
         10 . The transgenic, non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal provides for liver-specific expression of CD81. 
     
     
         11 . The transgenic, non-human mammal of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal provides for B lymphocyte-specific expression of CD81.