SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES SPECIFIC FOR THE DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES TO HCV, DIAGNOSIS OF HCV INFECTION AND PREVENTION THEREOF AS VACCINES

摘要

The present invention relates to peptides which areimmunoreactive to antibodies to HCV or NANBHV and a method ofdetecting the presence o~ HCV or NANBHV antibodies in body fluidsby using the peptides as the antigen. The peptides are selectedfrom both the envelope and non-structural protein regions of theHCV or NANBHV. The detection method includes enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assay or other immunoassay procedures. Thepeptides and conjugates or polymers thereof are also useful asimmunogens in generating high titer antibodies to HCV or invaccines.