# Patent

## Title
HCV core protein sequences

## Abstract

The present invention describes peptides and recombinant proteins containing Hepatitis C virus core protein sequence in which one or more of the amino acids have been modified or deleted to remove the ability of these proteins to bind to specific anti-HCV murine monoclonal antibodies. The deletions and modifications are designed as to maintain the ability of this protein to be used in immunoassays used for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies in individuals infected with HCV.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An estimated 170 million people worldwide have been infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In the next few years, the number of U.S. deaths for HCV-caused liver disease and cancer may overtake deaths caused by Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
The transmission of HCV seems to require blood-to-blood contact. Carrying a single strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA), HCV contains just one gene, coding for a polyprotein that is subsequently cleaved into at least 10 functional proteins. Clearly, the ability to test the blood supply for HCV is of great importance. A sensitive assay that can detect infection at an early stage would be helpful.
HCV detection assays typically detect antibodies against HCV virus. These antibodies are detected in immunoassays using recombinant proteins and peptides containing HCV protein sequences. Most commercial anti-HCV assays use proteins from the following regions, core protein, NS3, NS4, and NS5 protein sequences.
Anti-HCV core antibodies are one of the most prevalent anti-HCV antibodies detected in chronic HCV infected individuals. HCV core protein contains multiple epitopes. Using synthetic peptides in the HCV core region, it has been shown that most of these epitopes are in the amino terminal end of this protein. For example, using overlapping peptides, each approximately 15 amino acids in length, an ELISA was developed to screen for anti-HCV antibodies in chronic HCV infected individuals. Table 1 below shows the peptide sequences. As shown in Table 2 below, HCV infected individuals have antibodies to two or more of these core peptides. Thus, it has been shown that the complete core peptide is not required to detect anti-core antibodies.










TABLE 1







HCV



Peptide
Amino Acid
Polyprotein


ID #
Sequence
AA Location



















0
MSTNPKPQKKNKRNT
 1-15
SEQ ID NO.:1



 


1
KNKRNTNRRPQDVKF
10-24
SEQ ID NO.:2


 


2
QDVKFPGGGQIVGGV
20-34
SEQ ID NO.:3


 


3
QIVGGVYLLPRRGPR
29-43
SEQ ID NO.:4


 


4
RRGPRLGVPATRKTS
39-53
SEQ ID NO.:5


 


5
ATRKTSERSQPRGRR
48-62
SEQ ID NO.:6


 


6
PRGRRQPIPKARRPE
58-72
SEQ ID NO.:7


 


7
KARRPEGRTWAQPGY
67-81
SEQ ID NO.:8


 


8
AQPGYPWPLYGNEGC
77-91
SEQ ID NO.:9


 


9
YGNEGCGWAGWLLSP
 86-100
SEQ ID NO.:10


 


10
WLLSPRGSRPSWGPT
 96-110
SEQ ID NO.:11


 


11
SWGPTDPRRRSRLNG
106-120
SEQ ID NO.:12


 


12
SRLNGKVIDTLTCGF
116-130
SEQ ID NO.:13


 


13
LTCGFADLMGYIPLV
126-140
SEQ ID NO.:14


 


14
YIPLVGAPLGGAARA
136-150
SEQ ID NO.:15


 


15
GAARALAHGVRVLED
146-160
SEQ ID NO.:16


 


16
RVLEDGVNYATGNLP
156-170
SEQ ID NO.:17


 


17
TGNLPGCSFSIFLLA
166-180
SEQ ID NO.:18


































TABLE 2





Peptide
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

































Neg
0.044
0.004
0.021
0.075
0.059
0.069
0.076
0.103
0.020
0.034
0.002
0.088
0.051
0.028
0.023
0.034
0.041
0.042


Neg
0.045
0.065
0.017
0.081
0.051
0.081
0.103
0.111
0.033
0.035
0.002
0.085
0.038
0.030
0.023
0.030
0.038
0.052


Neg
0.050
0.003
0.014
0.075
0.087
0.079
0.094
0.102
0.025
0.034
0.002
0.071
0.038
0.033
0.021
0.031
0.039
0.047


Neg
0.014
0.043
0.134
0.023
0.034
0.039
0.034
0.039
0.012
0.018
−0.001
0.025
0.009
0.009
0.008
0.013
0.010
0.020


Neg
0.015
0.039
0.119
0.021
0.033
0.030
0.030
0.034
0.013
0.019
0.000
0.026
0.011
0.010
0.005
0.012
0.010
0.016


Neg
0.013
0.036
0.126
0.027
0.053
0.032
0.037
0.042
0.013
0.016
0.001
0.037
0.013
0.009
0.009
0.012
0.009
0.017


Neg
0.016
0.004
0.104
0.020
0.039
0.034
0.003
0.041
0.019
0.019
0.000
0.041
0.011
0.017
0.006
0.010
0.008
0.021


 9
0.256
2.500
2.500
0.425
1.443
0.016
0.218
0.248
0.062
0.015
0.025
0.049
0.030
0.013
0.012
0.021
0.012
0.028


11
0.413
2.500
2.500
0.917
0.229
0.647
0.114
0.262
0.166
0.159
0.002
0.055
0.022
0.027
0.021
0.042
0.247
0.088


15
0.044
0.661
2.500
0.067
0.577
0.057
0.110
0.072
0.061
0.032
−0.003
0.045
0.018
0.031
0.020
0.039
0.035
0.080


18
1.643
0.887
2.500
0.641
0.100
0.052
0.032
0.576
0.037
0.022
−0.001
0.040
0.006
0.010
0.009
0.025
0.036
0.039


20
0.021
0.111
2.500
2.500
0.482
0.032
0.029
0.045
0.028
0.015
0.011
0.035
0.009
0.014
0.009
0.017
0.019
0.059


21
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.262
2.500
0.516
2.259
0.080
0.378
0.018
0.022
0.064
0.013
0.024
0.017
0.024
0.135
0.035


27
0.032
2.500
2.500
0.089
2.500
1.652
1.349
0.043
0.039
0.034
0.033
0.026
0.012
0.018
0.013
0.028
0.287
0.008


30
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.183
0.044
0.075
0.993
0.078
0.035
0.028
0.190
0.023
0.025
0.022
0.028
0.042
0.043


35
0.022
0.278
0.912
0.031
0.036
0.116
0.079
0.049
0.062
0.010
0.005
0.026
0.005
0.006
0.009
0.020
0.007
0.020


36
0.059
0.129
2.500
0.090
0.131
0.060
0.093
0.148
0.090
0.037
0.003
0.050
0.018
0.060
0.077
0.062
0.129
0.079


37
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.219
0.130
0.090
0.169
0.223
0.147
0.040
0.018
0.065
0.016
0.051
0.051
0.025
0.080
0.110


39
0.165
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.124
1.217
2.351
2.500
0.397
0.056
0.015
1.319
0.017
0.050
0.056
0.041
0.200
0.190


40
0.058
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.098
0.066
0.060
0.755
0.093
0.024
0.000
0.059
0.013
0.028
0.017
0.032
0.068
0.101


42
0.022
0.043
2.500
0.031
0.023
0.150
0.018
0.036
0.023
0.011
−0.001
0.032
0.005
0.014
0.006
0.010
0.012
0.031


43
0.158
0.612
0.368
0.033
0.065
0.103
0.069
0.075
0.053
0.051
0.001
0.055
0.025
0.022
0.015
0.023
0.029
0.035


44
0.042
2.240
2.500
0.511
0.070
0.060
0.086
0.301
0.108
0.066
−0.002
0.143
0.028
0.041
0.028
0.047
0.061
0.076


45
1.002
2.500
2.500
0.174
0.713
0.055
0.129
1.722
1.896
0.029
−0.003
0.069
0.038
0.038
0.055
0.022
0.136
0.039


46
0.016
0.031
2.500
0.022
0.021
0.021
0.038
0.035
0.031
0.027
−0.002
0.027
0.016
0.015
0.013
0.026
0.019
0.037


47
2.484
2.500
2.500
0.449
0.750
0.593
0.102
2.006
0.331
0.017
−0.004
0.034
0.012
0.014
0.007
0.026
0.014
0.032


48
0.427
0.201
2.500
0.364
0.356
0.038
0.049
0.070
0.027
0.029
−0.001
0.040
0.018
0.011
0.013
0.025
0.014
0.095


49
0.019
0.483
2.500
0.044
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.246
0.039
0.025
−0.005
0.033
0.019
0.014
0.013
0.030
0.016
0.085


50
0.668
2.500
2.500
0.568
1.233
0.277
0.154
2.500
0.882
0.024
−0.001
0.035
0.014
0.012
0.007
0.017
0.044
0.055


52
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.948
1.116
1.619
0.026
0.267
0.112
0.019
0.026
0.042
0.012
0.007
0.009
0.019
0.008
0.044


53
0.823
2.500
2.500
0.428
2.500
0.780
0.086
2.500
1.566
0.025
0.001
0.050
0.014
0.020
0.011
0.022
0.019
0.028


54
1.577
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.020
0.032
0.053
0.021
0.012
0.012
0.020
0.017
0.038


55
0.017
0.083
2.500
0.047
0.018
0.023
0.071
0.042
0.019
0.017
−0.002
0.026
0.015
0.015
0.012
0.026
0.014
0.030


58
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.283
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.810
0.037
0.073
0.067
0.018
0.019
0.021
0.025
0.159
0.059


59
0.015
1.805
2.500
0.023
2.500
0.019
0.180
0.038
0.070
0.039
0.027
0.017
0.012
0.015
0.018
0.015
0.023
0.049


60
0.053
2.500
2.500
0.255
2.500
0.102
1.266
0.666
2.500
0.034
−0.003
0.153
0.026
0.019
0.022
0.039
0.097
0.063


62
0.018
0.053
2.500
1.178
0.025
0.031
0.041
0.060
0.028
0.017
−0.002
0.039
0.013
0.012
0.010
0.017
0.010
0.048


63
0.009
0.016
0.027
0.012
0.017
0.013
1.225
0.028
0.012
0.017
−0.004
0.026
0.007
0.007
0.006
0.010
0.057
0.020


65
1.440
0.041
0.026
0.040
0.032
0.056
0.052
0.062
0.020
0.040
0.023
0.051
0.018
0.023
0.023
0.019
0.020
0.035


66
2.060
2.500
2.500
1.030
2.500
0.508
0.144
2.500
2.500
0.013
0.009
0.060
0.007
0.009
0.009
0.014
0.025
0.018


67
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500
1.338
0.406
2.500
0.135
0.031
0.003
0.091
0.021
0.027
0.028
0.032
0.042
0.077


68
2.500
2.500
2.500
1.105
0.415
0.358
1.025
2.500
0.263
0.028
0.006
0.039
0.023
0.025
0.022
0.024
0.034
0.037


70
0.745
2.500
2.500
0.342
2.500
0.200
0.049
0.075
1.730
0.030
0.009
0.119
0.015
0.025
0.022
0.027
0.056
0.050


73
0.031
2.392
2.500
0.049
0.629
0.935
0.596
1.119
0.081
0.040
0.009
0.052
0.028
0.036
0.031
0.038
0.043
0.059


75
0.037
2.500
2.500
1.435
1.342
0.107
0.287
0.094
0.080
0.049
0.012
0.031
0.013
0.030
0.017
0.021
0.058
0.050


78
2.500
2.500
2.500
0.269
2.500
0.298
0.051
2.500
0.040
0.057
0.006
0.084
0.013
0.022
0.014
0.021
0.022
0.030


80
0.280
2.500
2.500
0.674
0.318
0.972
0.048
2.118
0.040
0.021
0.022
0.024
0.015
0.010
0.008
0.014
0.066
0.031


84
0.012
0.075
2.500
0.025
0.190
0.145
0.106
0.099
0.019
0.028
0.050
0.018
0.009
0.010
0.009
0.013
0.009
0.026


90
0.019
0.306
2.500
0.039
2.500
0.689
0.033
0.301
0.195
0.021
0.005
0.033
0.011
0.017
0.010
0.013
0.014
0.018









A recent report indicates that the HCV core protein can be detected in HCV infected individuals before the appearance of anti-HCV antibodies. (S. Lee et al., Vox Sanguinis, 2001; 80: 19-23). Therefore, we suggest that a more efficient way of early detection of HCV infection would be a combination assay able to detect HCV core protein and anti-HCV antibodies including anti-core antibodies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes peptides and recombinant proteins containing Hepatitis C virus core protein sequence in which one or more of the amino acids have been modified or deleted to remove the ability of these proteins to bind to specific anti-HCV murine monoclonal antibodies. These modifications were made in the in the underlined regions shown in Table 3 below. The deletions and modifications are designed as to maintain the ability of this protein to be used in immunoassays used for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies in individuals infected with HCV. These modified core proteins can be used in a combination assay for the simultaneous detection of HCV core protein and anti-HCV antibodies. The combination assay will be able to detect HCV assay earlier than the currently used antibody assays.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
One object of the invention is to develop peptide sequences that can detect anti-HCV antibodies in the presence of anti-core monoclonal antibodies to detect HCV core antigen. One use therefore of these modified core antigens will be to use them in an anti-HCV/HCV core assay, or “combination assay”.
For this purpose, two or more monoclonal antibodies from Table 4 can be co-coated with one or more modified HCV core proteins on a solid phase thereby enabling the solid phase to capture anti-HCV core antibodies and core antigen. The modification is accomplished by removing the epitope for the antibody being used for detection or capture of HCV core. The removal of epitopes can be achieved by means known in the art such as deleting parts of the core sequence or altering amino acids in the epitope sequence. This can be achieved, for example, by synthesizing these peptides by chemical synthesis using commercially available peptide synthesizers or by modifying recombinant clones expressing HCV core protein. The recombinant sequences can be modified by primer dependent single or multiple site mutagenesis or primer dependent deletions. (B. Tao and K. C. Lee, PCR Technology Current Innovations,1994 by CRC Press, Inc., Chapter 10, Mutagenesis by PCR).
Another object of the invention is to identify immunodominant regions of HCV core protein.
Another object of the present invention is to determine the pattern of reactivity to core peptides among HCV infected individuals presenting anti-core antibodies.
The peptides of the invention were generated by maintaining the highly reactive portions of the core protein and making modifications to the remaining parts of the sequence such that the peptide would not be detected by an antibody used to detect core protein in an assay.
In a preferred embodiment, the peptide would be modified by either substitution of amino acids or deletion of amino acids in the regions underlined in Table 3. The remainder of the sequence shown in Table 3 should not be altered.
In another preferred embodiment the peptides would be used in a combination assay. That is one that is capable of detecting both HCV antigens and antibodies simultaneously.








TABLE 3





HCV core protein sequence:
















SEQ ID NO.:19 









MSTNPKPQRKTKRNTNRRPQDVKFPGGGQIVGGVYLLPRRGPRLGVPATR



 


KTSERSQPRGRRQPIPKARRPEGRSWAQPGYPWPLYGNEGCGWAGWLLSP


 


RGSRPSWGPTDPRRRSRNLGKVIDTLTCGF









The effectiveness and advantages of the invention are further illustrated by the following examples.


EXAMPLE 1
Synthetic Peptides
Synthetic peptides covering the entire sequence of HCV core protein sequence were used. Eighteen overlapping peptides shown in Table 1 were chemically synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis using a peptide synthesizer. All of the peptides were synthesized with a C-terminal cysteine amide residue. Peptides were cleaved form the resin and purified by reverse phase liquid chromatography. Purity of each of these peptides, based on reverse phase HPLC analysis was greater that ninety-five (95%). The sequence of each peptide was confirmed by amino acid analysis of the acid hydrolysate of the peptide. The structural identities of the peptides were confirmed mass spectrometry. All of the peptides had the molecular weight expected.
EXAMPLE 2
Synthetic peptides were coated onto Immulon 2 microwells (made by Dyanatech) in 50 mM borate buffer at a concentration of 1 ug/ml. To each microwell, 200 ul of peptide solution was added and the microwells were incubated at 25 degrees Celsius for 16-20 hours. The microwells were aspirated and washed once with phosphate buffer saline (PBS) containing TWEEN 20 to remove any unbound peptide. The microwells were then post coated with 300 ul of PBS containing one percent (1%) bovine serum albumin (BSA) and three percent (3%) sucrose to block all of the available protein binding sites. After 2-4 hours, the plates were aspirated, turbo dried and stored in sealed pouches at 2-8 degrees Celsius.
EXAMPLE 3
Synthetic Peptide ELISA
The sample, 10 ul in 200 ul of diluent, suspected of being infected with HCV was added into the peptide coated microwell. After incubation for approximately one hour the microwells were washed. To the washed microwells anti-human IgG were labeled with horse radish peroxidase was added. After an incubation for thirty minutes the microwells were washed and a solution of ORTHO phenylenedaamine buffer and hydrogen peroxide added to each well. After approximately 30 minutes sulfuric acid were added to each well to stop the reaction. An orange or yellow color indicated the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in the sample.
Table 4
Monoclonal Antibodies
The table below identifies 15 antibodies. The antibodies were screened at every stage of antibody development with microtitrewell plates coated with immunogen. The immunogen used to immunize the mice that produced each strain of monoclonal antibody is identified as one of the following: peptide ODS 243, a large peptide further defined in Example 1; “FLC” means full length core antigen, defined in Example 1; or KLH conjugated core peptide #8, a short peptide, further defined herein. The specificity of each to a numbered peptide is shown and the amino acid sequences of each numbered peptide is identified herein. Furthermore, the epitope to which the antibody specifically binds is included in the last column, defined by the amino acids that encode for the epitope.















ATCC
AG-FUSION #,






#
clone
IMMUNOGEN
ISOTYPE
SPECIFICITY
AA







PTA-
ODS243, 7B4F11
Peptide
IgG 2b
HCV core
77-91


3811

ODS 243

peptide #8


PTA-
ODS243, 1E3D12
Peptide
IgG2a
HCV core
 86-100


3803

ODS 243

peptide #9


PTA-
ODS243, 7C12C4
Peptide
IgG2b
HCV core
77-91


3802

ODS 243

peptide #8


PTA-
core#3,
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
106-120


3813
2A11C6


peptide# 11


PTA-
Core#12,
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
29-43


3809
1B7A1


peptide# 3


PTA-
CORE#13,
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
39-53


3805
5A12G12


peptide# 4


PTA-
Core#13,
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
48-62


3812
4H7E7


peptide# 5


PTA-
Core#13, 12F4A
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
58-72


3806
11


peptide# 6


PTA-
Core#13,
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
67-81


3804
14D12A12


peptide# 7


PTA-
c22-8#4,
KLH
IgG1
HCV core
77-91


3807
6D8E8
Conjugated

peptide# 8




core




peptide




#8


PTA-
Core#12,
FLC
IgG2b
HCV core
 96-110


3800
4G10G6


peptide# 10


PTA-
Core#13,
FLC
IgG2a
HCV core
106-120


3801
6E7E1


peptide# 11


PTA-
Core#13,
FLC
IgG2b
HCV core
106-120


3810
11D12A6


peptide# 11


PTA-
Core#13,
FLC
IgG3
HCV core
106-120


3808
14B7C3


peptide# 11


PTA-
Core#12,
FLC
IgG1
HCV core
156-170


3799
4A6H3


peptide# 16









EXAMPLE 4
Use of Modified Core Peptides in an Anti-HCV ELISA
A peptide consisting of HCV core immunodominant region amino acids 1-43 was chemically synthesized. Another peptide with certain deletions in this region, namely, amino acids 1-8 and 31-33 were deleted, was also synthesized. These peptides were used to test 40 chronic HCV patients' serum samples for anti-HCV antibody status. The results indicated that 39 of the 40 patients were not affected by deletion of these sequences. The deletion peptides can be used in combination with anti-HCV monoclonal antibodies, such as the ones shown in Table 4, in a combination assay. Peptides with deletions of amino acids 31-33 can be used with any of the monoclonal antibodies shown in Table 4.











TABLE 5





Peptide/Specimen ID
265-2
266-2
271-2
272-2



















11
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


15
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


18
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


20
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


21
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


27
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


30
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


35
0.762
0.911
0.507
0.611


36
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


37
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


39
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


40
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


42
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


43
1.621
1.255
1.382
1.443


44
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


45
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


46
2.003
1.863
1.058
1.829


47
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


48
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


49
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


50
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


52
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


53
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


54
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


55
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


58
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


59
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


60
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


62
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


65
0.056
0.045
2.237
1.704


66
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


67
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


68
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


70
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


73
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


75
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


78
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


80
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500


84
2.500
2.500
2.170
2.500


90
2.500
2.500
2.500
2.500





Peptide 265 HCV Polyprotein Amino Acid Sequence 10-43


Peptide 266 HCV Polyprotein Amino Acid Sequence 8-43


Peptide 271 HCV polyprotein Amino Acid Sequence 1-43 with AA 31, 32 and 33 deleted


Peptide 272 HCV Polyprotein Amino Acid Sequence 1-43 Consensus sequence

## Claims

1. A kit for the simultaneous detection of HCV antibody and HCV antigen comprising
A) a solid phase coated with
1) an HCV core peptide, comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19, wherein at least two of the following amino acid segments have one or more amino acids deleted or one or more amino acids altered,
i) MSTNPKPQRK (residues 1-10);
ii) IVGGVYLL (residues 30-37);
iii) RLGVRATR (residues 43-50); and
iv) AQPGYPWPLYGNEGCGWAGWLLSPRGSRPSWGPTDPRRRSRNLGKV IDTLTCGF (residues 77-130);

2) HCV non-core protein, and
3) at least one anti-HCV monoclonal antibody that binds to HCV core antigen and does not bind with the HCV core peptide described in A) 1); and

B) a labeled anti-HCV monoclonal antibody that binds to HCV core antigen and does not bind to the HCV core peptide described in A) 1) and does not bind to the same epitope as the anti-HCV monoclonal antibody described in A) 3).

2. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the HCV non-core protein is selected from c200 and NS5.

3. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the labeled anti-HCV monoclonal antibody is labeled with an enzyme, a fluorophore, or a radioactive label.

4. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the solid phase is a microtitre well, polystyrene bead, magnetic bead or membrane.

5. An isolated HCV core peptide, comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19, wherein at least two of the following segments of amino acids have one or more amino acids deleted or one or more amino acids altered,
i) MSTNPKPQRK (residues 1-10);
ii) IVGGVYLL (residues 30-37);
iii) RLGVRATR (residues 43-50); and
iv) AQPGYPWPLYGNEGCGWAGWLLSPRGSRPSWGPTDPRRRSRNLGKV IDTLTCGF (residues 77-130),

and wherein amino acids 11-29, 38-42, and 51-76 are not deleted or altered.

6. The isolated HCV core peptide claimed in claim 5 wherein amino acids MSTNPKPQ have been deleted from section i) and amino acids VGG have been deleted from section ii).