EPITOPES IN VIRAL ENVELOPE PROTEINS AND SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES DIRECTED AGAINST THESE EPITOPES: USE FOR DETECTION OF HCV VIRAL ANTIGEN IN HOST TISSUE

摘要

Antibodies to two new epitopes on the HCV envelope proteins were identified which allow routine detection of native HCV envelope antigens, in tissue or cells derived from the host. The new epitopes are: the E1 region aa 307-326 and the N-terminal hyper variable region of E2 aa 395-415. Surprisingly, we characterized an antibody which reacts with various sequences of the hypervariabie domain of E2. Specific monoclonal antibodies directed against these epitopes and allowing routine detection of viral antigen are described.