HCV POLYPROTEIN NS3 / NS4 AND HCV POLYPEPTIDE NS5B CONTAINING COMPOSITION, CORRESPONDING NUCLEIN SEQUENCES COMPRISING EXPRESSION VECTORS AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION THEREOF

摘要

Composition (A) comprising a NS (non-structural) 3/NS4 polyprotein (I) and a NS5b polypeptide (II), both from hepatitis C virus (HCV). Independent claims are also included for: (1) expression vector (EV) that contains sequences encoding (I) and (II), plus necessary expression elements; (2) microorganisms and host cells transfected by EV; (3) antibodies (Ab) directed against (A) or EV; and (4) pharmaceutical composition or kit, particularly a vaccine, that contains (A), EV or Ab. ACTIVITY : Virucide; Hepatotropic. Mice were vaccinated with an adenovirus (Ad) that expressed HCV proteins, then inoculated with a recombinant vaccinia virus that expressed non-structural HCV proteins. Neutralization of vaccinia was determined 4 days later by a plaque-reduction assay on ovarian extracts. For 8 animals vaccinated with a control Ad, the total score was 77, but for 8 animals injected with two AdV that expressed NS3/NS4 and NS5b had a score of 52, i.e. the neutralization of virus was significantly more effective. Combinations of viruses that expressed NS3/NS4 and NS5b and either of NS5a or CE1E2 were no more effective than the control virus. MECHANISM OF ACTION : Vaccine; Passive immunization.