Diagnosis of, and vaccination against positive stranded RNA virus using an isolated unprocessed polypeptide.

摘要

"DIAGNOSIS OF, AND VACCINATION AGAINST POSITIVE RNA VIRUSES USING AN UNPROCESSED ISOLATED POLYPEPTIDE". The unprocessed polyprotein initially translated from the genome of a positive stranded RNA virus contains epitopic configurations that are not maintained in the processed proteins. The structural protein region, in particular, loses an epitopic configuration with processing at the cleavage site, between the genomic region encoding the heartwood protein and the genome region encoding the protein adjacent to the heartwood protein, such as the sheath protein in HCV. Compositions, processes and assays related to the diagnosis and detection of the presence of the positive stranded RNA virus, or antibodies to the positive stranded RNA virus, in a sample. Compositions and processes for inducing immune responses in, and vaccination of, an animal. Combination of the unprocessed heartwood region with a non-structural protein (such as an unprocessed NS5 or NS3-NS4 HCV fusion protein).