Patent ID: 6790612
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: C07K,C12N,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A reporter gene system useful in the assessment of compounds which augment or inhibit the activity of Hepatitis C virus NS3 protease comprising:a target mammalian cell; wherein said target mammalian cell has been infected first with a recombinant viral vector: wherein said viral vector comprises a DNA molecule encoding a T7 RNA polymerase wherein said polymerase is expressed upon infection of said target mammalian cell; and wherein said target mammalian cell has been transfected second with a recombinant plasmid: wherein said plasmid comprises a DNA molecule encoding the Hepatitis C Virus/secreted alkaline phosphatase (HCV/SEAP) reporter fusion from a T7 RNA polymerase promoter wherein said HCV/SEAP reporter fusion is expressed when transfected into said target mammalian cell; and wherein said target mammalian cell expresses said HCV/SEAP reporter fusion such that SEAP is secreted from said target mammalian cell.