# Patent

## Title
Multi-mer peptides derived from hepatitis C virus envelope proteins for diagnostic use and vaccination purposes

## Abstract

Multimer peptides (e.g. 30- to 45-mer peptides) derived from hepatitis C virus envelope proteins reacting with the majority of anti-HCV antibodies present in patient sera are described. The usage of the latter peptides to diagnose, and to vaccinate against, an infection with hepatitis C virus is also disclosed.

## Background
This is a continuation of PCT application PCT/EP98/07105, filed 6 Nov. 1998, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in this application.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to multi-mer peptides derived from hepatitis C virus envelope proteins which react with the majority of anti-HCV antibodies present in patient sera. Consequently, the present invention relates to the usage of the latter peptides to diagnose, and to vaccinate against, an infection with hepatitis C virus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem in both developed and developing countries. It is estimated that about 1 to 5% of the world population is affected by the virus, amounting up to 175 million chronic infections worldwide. HCV infection appears to be the most important cause of transfusion-associated hepatitis and frequently progresses to chronic liver damage. Moreover, there is evidence implicating HCV in induction of hepatocellular carcinoma. Consequently, the demand for reliable diagnostic methods and effective therapeutic agents is high. There is also an urgent need to characterize new epitopes which can be used in the design of effective vaccines against hepatitis C.
HCV is a positive stranded RNA virus of about 9,8 kilobases which code for at least three structural and at least six non-structural proteins. The structural proteins have not yet been functionally assigned, but are thought to consist of a single core protein and two envelope proteins E1 and E2. The E1 protein consists of 192 amino acids and contains 5 to 6 N-glycosylation sites, depending on the HCV genotype, whereas the E2 protein consists of 363 to 370 amino acids and contains up to 11 N-glycosylation sites, depending on the HCV genotype (for review see Maertens and Stuyver, 1997).
The E1 and E2 proteins are currently not included in HCV antibody (Ab) assays, primarily because of their complex conformational structures which require expression in mammalian cells as well as non-denaturing purification techniques. Indeed, after expression of E2 in Escherichia coli, the reactivity of HCV sera with the recombinant protein ranged from 14 (Yokosuka et al., 1992) to 17% (Mita et al., 1992), whereas expression in eukaryotic systems yields reactivities of 13 to 97% (Inoue, 1992; Chien, 1993). Others demonstrated that the E1 protein expressed as a single protein from eukaryotic cells did not shown high reactivity with patient sera (from 6 to 60%; Kohara et al. (1992), Hsu et al. (1992), Chien et al. (1993)). We previously reported that high prevalences of Ab's to both of the purified recombinant E1 and E2 proteins, which were expressed in mammalian cells, could be found in sera from chronic hepatitis C patients (WO 96/04385 to Maertens et al.). In this regard, we also demonstrated that the majority of anti-E1 and anti-E2 antibodies in sera from HCV patients could not be mapped using 20-mer peptides (WO 96/04385 to Maertens et al.). Indeed, although all of the murine monoclonal Ab's against E1 could be mapped to reactivity with two 20-mer peptides, denoted as epitope A (amino acids (aa) 313-326) and epitope B (aa 208-224), at most 50% of patient sera reactive with recombinant proteins recognized epitope A and B. With regard to the E2 protein, only three out of twenty four murine monoclonal Ab's could be mapped using 20-mer peptides. These three Ab's were mapped to the hypervariable region I (HVR I) covered by peptide E2-67 (aa 394-413) and to a region covered by a peptide denoted E2-13B (aa 523-542). The remaining twenty-one Ab's could not be mapped using 20-mer peptides. The relative map positions of seven of these Ab's could be deduced from competition studies using recombinant E2 protein.
Taken together, it appears that anti-E1 and anti-E2 Ab's might be highly prevalent in sera of HCV patients. However, determining the presence of these Ab's is problematic due to the need to use eukaryotically expressed E1 and E2, which have to be purified using cumbersome non-denaturing techniques. As an alternative, chemically synthesized 20-mer peptides derived from the E1 and/or E2 proteins were produced. However, these synthesized 20-mer peptides were not able to recognize the anti-E1 and anti-2 Ab's in sera from HCV patients.
There is thus a need to design alternative methods to screen for HCV envelope Ab's.
AIMS OF THE INVENTION
It is clear from the literature cited above that the E1 and E2 proteins probably have complex conformational structures which are essential for recognizing (and binding to) the anti-E1 and anti-E2 Ab's in sera from HCV patients. This could explain why prokaryotically expressed complete or near-complete E1 and E2 proteins, which might be malfolded due to the lack of glycosylations, relevant chaperones or correct cysteine bridges, and 20-mer peptides, which might be unable to mimic a complex conformational structure, are not able to recognize these Ab's.
The present invention relates to the surprising finding that multi-mer peptides (eg 30- to 45-mer peptides) are able to recognize the majority of anti-E1 and anti-E2 Ab's in sera from HCV patients. It should be clear that this is a surprising finding because there is no guidance which would suggest that 30- to 45-mer peptides derived from E1 and E2 would acquire proper folding and would efficiently recognize the majority of HCV envelope Ab's. In contrast, one would assume that the chance that multi-mer peptides malfold would be as great, or even greater, than the chance that prokaryotically expressed complete proteins malfold as is suggested above. In the case of the HCV NS3 protein for example, which reacts with more than 90% of patient samples as expressed from E. coli, 20-50 mer peptides only react very weakly.
Therefore, the present invention aims at providing a peptide of more than 20 contiguous amino acids derived from the envelope region of HCV-related viruses which binds and recognizes anti-HCV-related virus antibodies. HCV-related viruses, including HCV, GBV-B virus, GBV-A virus and GBV-C (HGV or hepatitis G virus), are a division of the Flaviviruses, which further comprise Dengue virus, Yellow fever virus, Pestiviruses such as Classical Swine Fever Virus and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (Wengler, 1991).
More specifically, the present invention aims at providing a peptide which binds and recognizes an anti-HCV antibody or an anti-HGV antibody present in a sample of body fluid and which is chosen from the group consisting of the sequences as represented in SEQ ID NOs 1 to 38 (see Table 1) or a functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof.
In this respect, the present invention aims specifically at providing a peptide as described above, wherein said anti-HCV antibody present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HCV-E1 antibody or an anti-HCV-E2 antibody.
The present invention thus aims also at providing a peptide as described above, wherein said anti-HGV antibody present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HGV-E1 antibody or an anti-HGV-E2 antibody.
Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a peptide as described above, wherein said peptide is synthesized chemically or is synthesized using recombinant DNA techniques.
The present invention also aims at providing a peptide as described above, wherein said peptide is biotinylated or contains cysteine bridges.
Furthermore, the present invention aims at providing any combination of peptides as described above, as well as compositions containing said combination of peptides or peptides as described above.
In addition, the present invention aims at providing a method for diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV-related viruses comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a combination of peptides as described above, determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a combination of peptides as described above.
In addition, the present invention aims at providing an assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a solid support, a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, appropriate markers which allow to determine the complexes formed between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above.
In addition, the present invention aims at providing a bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said bioassay comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, adding a modulator (ie a compound which is able to modulate the interaction between an envelope protein and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody) or a combination of modulators to the contacted anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, determining the modulation of binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above
In addition, the present invention aims at providing a bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said bioassay comprising determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, contacting a modulator with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, adding anti-HCV-related virus antibodies to the contacted modulator with the peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above, determining the modulation of binding between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above.
Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a modulator, a composition containing a modulator, or a combination of modulators when produced by the bioassay as described above or when identified by the above-described bioassays.
Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a composition comprising a plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide as described above, or a modulator as described above, operably linked to transcription regulatory elements.
Moreover, the present invention aims at providing a composition as described above for use to vaccinate or therapeutically treat humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof.
Moreover, it is an aim of the present invention to provide an antibody, more particularly a monoclonal antibody, characterized in that it specifically recognizes an HCV-related virus polypeptide as described above. Finally, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a method to immunize humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising the use of a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above.
All the aims of the present invention are considered to have been met by the embodiments as set out below. Other advantages and features of the instant invention will be evident from the following claims and detailed description.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TABLES AND DRAWINGS
Table 1 provides information on the envelope protein and the HCV genotype from which the peptides of the present invention are derived. This table also provides the name, the amino acid sequence, the position within the envelope proteins and the sequence identity (SEQ ID) of the peptides of the present invention.
Table 2 shows ELISA results (in mOD) of reactivities of multimer peptides and recombinant E2 with 60 HCV positive samples and 4 control samples.
Table 3 shows the analysis for E1 antibodies of 23 sera from responders to interferon treatment.
Table 4 shows the analysis of E2 antibodies of 23 sera from responders to interferon treatment.
Table 5 shows the monitoring of disease over time by measuring antibodies to the HCV E1 and E2 regions in 18 patients.
Table 6 indicates the reactivity of HGV (Hepatitis G virus) RNA positive sera with the HGV E1 peptide V1V2.
FIG. 1 demonstrates the positions of the multi-mer peptides of the present invention relative to the conserved and variable regions of the E1 envelope protein of HCV (HVR=hypervariable regions; V=variable regions; C=conserved regions; HR=hydrophobic region; SA=signal anchor domain; Y=glycosylation; ▮=cysteine).
FIG. 2 demonstrates the positions of the multi-mer peptides of the present invention relative to the conserved and variable regions of the E2 envelope protein of HCV (HVR=hypervariable regions; V=variable regions; C=conserved regions; SA=signal anchor domain; Y=glycosylation; ▮=cysteine).
FIG. 3 shows the reactivity of 20-mer E2 peptides. The OD values of serum samples from patients with chronic active hepatitis C were added and plotted against the different peptides.
FIG. 4 shows the reactivity of mulit-mer E2 peptides. The OD values of the samples were added and plotted against the different peptides. The samples were identical as used for FIG. 3.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein draws on previously published work and pending patent applications. By way of example, such work consists of scientific papers, patents or pending patent applications. All these publications and applications, cited previously or below are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention is based on the finding that multimer peptides, as of a certain length, derived from the envelope proteins of HCV-related viruses, eg HCV and HGV, recognize and bind anti-HCV-related virus antibodies, eg anti-HCV antibodies and anti-HGV antibodies, respectively. Therefore, the present invention provides a peptide of more than 20contiguous amino acids derived from the envelope region of HCV-related viruses which binds and recognizes anti-HCV-related virus antibodies.
HCV-related viruses include, but are not limited to HCV, GBV-B virus, GBV-A virus and GBV-C virus (HGV or hepatitis G virus)(Linnen et al., 1996). HCV constitutes a genus within the Flaviviridae, and is closely related to hepatitis G virus (26.8% at the amino acid level). The term “envelope region” of HCV-related viruses is a well-known region by a person skilled in the art (Wengler, 1991), and comprises the E1 protein as well as the E2 protein, which was previously called non-structural protein 1 (NS1) or E2/NS1.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a peptide, which binds and recognizes an anti-HCV antibody or an anti-HGV antibody present in a sample of body fluid, and which is chosen from the group consisting of the sequences as represented in SEQ ID 1 to 38 (see Table 1) or a functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof.
The present invention relates also to a peptide as described above, wherein said anti-HCV antibody or said anti-HGV antibody present in a sample of body fluid is an anti-HCV-E1 or anti-HCV-E2 antibody, or an anti-HGV-E1 or anti-HGV-E2 antibody, respectively.
The term “a peptide” refers to a polymer of amino acids (aa's) derived (i.e. containing less aa's) from the well-known HCV-related virus envelope proteins E1 and E2 (Linnen et al., 1996, Maertens and Stuyver, 1997), which binds anti-HCV-related virus antibodies. The term “a peptide” refers in particular to a polymer of aa's derived from HCV envelope proteins E1 and E2, which binds anti-HCV antibodies, or from HGV envelope proteins E1 and E2, which binds anti-HGV antibodies.
The terms “peptide”, “polypeptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein. The term “an anti-HCV-related virus antibody” refers to any polyclonal or monoclonal antibody binding to a HCV-related virus particle or any molecule derived from said viral particle. More particularly, the term “an anti-HCV-related virus antibody” refers to antibodies binding to the natural, recombinant or synthetic E1 and/or E2 proteins derived from HCV or HGV proteins (anti-HCV-E1 or anti-HCV-E2 antibody, or anti-HGV-E1 or anti-HGV-E2 antibody, respectively).
The term “monoclonal antibody” used herein refers to an antibody composition having a homogeneous antibody population. The term is not limiting regarding the species or source of the antibody, nor is it intended to be limited by the manner in which it is made.
In addition, the term “antibody” also refers to humanized antibodies in which at least a portion of the framework regions of an immunoglobulin are derived from human immunoglobulin sequences and single chain antibodies as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778 and to fragments of antibodies such as Fab, F(ab)2, Fv, and other fragments which retain the antigen binding function and specificity of the parent antibody.
The term “a sample of body fluid” as used herein refers to a fluid obtained from an organism, such as serum, plasma, saliva, gastric secretions, mucus, spinal cord fluid, and the like.
The term “the group consisting of the sequences as represented in SEQ ID NOs 1 to 38” as used herein refers to thirty-eight peptides shown in Table 1 of the present application. In this table, it is indicated:

    
    
        in the column named “protein” from which HCV envelope protein the peptide is derived, but for the envelope protein of HGV, which is denoted E1(HGV),
        in the column named “genotype” the HCV genotype from which the envelope protein is derived, and thus the peptide is derived, except for HGV which was not determined (ND),
        in the column named “peptide” the assignment of the peptide region.
        the aa sequence of the peptide and,
        in the column named “position”, the well-known (Maertens and Stuyver, 1997) aa position of the peptides within the HCV envelope proteins. Note that the position for the E1 envelope protein is not determined, which is denoted as “ND”.
    
    


The term “functionally equivalent” as used in “functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof” refers to variants and fragments of the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38, which bind anti-HCV-related virus antibodies. The term “variant or fragment” as used in “functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof” refers to any variant or any fragment of the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38. Furthermore, the latter terms do not refer to, nor do they exclude, post-translational modifications of the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 such as glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, modifications with fatty acids and the like. Included within the definition are, for example, peptides containing one or more analogues of an aa (including unnatural aa's), peptides with substituted linkages, mutated versions or natural sequence variations of the peptides (for example corresponding to the genotypes HCV, as described in WO 94/12670 to Maertens et al.), peptides containing disulfide bounds between cysteine residues, or other cysteine modifications, biotinylated peptides, as well as other modifications known in the art. Modification of the structure of the polypeptides can be for such objectives as increasing therapeutic or prophylactic efficacy, stability (e.g. ex vivo shelf life and in vivo resistance to proteolytic degradation), or post-translational modifications (e.g. to alter the phosphorylation pattern of protein). Such modified peptides, when designed to retain at least one activity of the naturally-occurring form of the protein are considered functional equivalents of the polypeptides described in more detail herein. Such modified peptides can be produced, for instance, by amino acid substitution, deletion, or addition. For example, it is reasonable to expect that an isolated replacement of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine with a serine, or a similar replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid (i.e. isosteric and/or isoelectric mutations) will not have a major effect on the biological activity of the resulting molecule. Conservative replacements are those that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains. Genetically encoded amino acids can be divided into four families: (1) acidic: aspartate, glutamate; (2) basic: lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) nonpolar: alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan; and (4) uncharged polar: glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine, threonine, tyrosine. In similar fashion, the amino acid repertoire can be grouped as (1) acidic: aspartate, glutamate; (2) basic: lysin, arginine histidine, (3) aliphatic: glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, with serine and threonine optionally be grouped separately as aliphatic-hydroxyl; (4) aromatic: phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan; (5) amide: asparagine, glutamine; and (6) sulfur-containing: cysteine and methionine (see, for example, Biochemistry, 2nd ed., Ed. by L. Stryer, W H Freeman and Co.: 1981). Whether a change in the amino acid sequence of a peptide results in a functional homologue (e.g. functional in the sense that the resulting polypeptide mimics the wild-type form) can be readily determined by assessing the ability of the variant peptide to produce a response in e.g. ELISAs in a fashion similar to the wild-type protein, or to competitively inhibit such a response. Polypeptides in which more than one replacement has been introduced can be readily tested in the same manner.
It should also be clear that the region of a peptide represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 which bind to an antibody (the so-called epitope) need not to be composed of a contiguous aa sequence.
In this regard, the term “fragment” includes any fragment which comprises these non-contiguous binding regions or parts thereof. In other words, fragments which include these binding regions may be separated by a linker, which is not a functional part of the epitope. This linker does not need to be an amino acid sequence, but can be any molecule, eg organic or inorganic, that allows the formation of the desired epitope by two or more fragments.
Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 1 to 5, 7 to 9, and 18 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 6 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 10 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 11, 15, 21, 34 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 12, 24 or 32 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's,or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, or 35 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 13, 22, or 34 used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's. Moreover, it should be that clear the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 16 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 17 as used herein refers to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 19 as used herein refers to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 20 and 30 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 23 as used herein include to peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's, or 41 aa's, or 42 aa's, or 43 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 25 or 29 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 26 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 27 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's, or 41 aa's, or 42 aa's, or 43 aa's, or 44 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 28 or 31 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NO 33 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's, or 40 aa's, or 41 aa's. Moreover, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of SEQ ID NOs 14 or 37 as used herein include peptides having a length of at least 21 aa's, or 22 aa's, or 23 aa's, or 24 aa's, or 25 aa's, or 26 aa's, or 27 aa's, or 28 aa's, or 29 aa's, or 30 aa's, or 31 aa's, or 32 aa's, or 33 aa's, or 34 aa's, 35 aa's, or 36 aa's, or 37 aa's, or 38 aa's, or 39 aa's.
In addition, it shall be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the amino acid regions of the peptides, which are disclosed in the present invention and that bind anti-HCV antibodies, can be delineated in more detail by experimentation.
In addition, it should be clear that the variants and fragments of the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38, as herein described, can be prepared by any method known in the art such as classical chemical synthesis, as described by Houbenweyl (1974) and Atherton & Shepard (1989), or by means of recombinant DNA techniques as described by eg Maniatis et al. (1982), or Sambrook et al. (1989).
Similarly, it should be clear that also the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 of the present invention can be prepared by any method known in the art and more particularly by means of classical chemical synthesis, as described by Houbenweyl (1974) and Atherton & Shepard (1989), or by means of recombinant DNA techniques such as described by eg Maniatis et al. (1982), or Sambrook et al. (1989).
The present invention further relates to the peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 and functionally equivalent variants or fragments thereof, all as defined above, which are biotinylated or contain cysteine bridges. Biotinylated peptides can be obtained by any method known in the art, such as the one described in WO93/18054 to De Leys. Methods for obtaining peptides containing inter- and/or intramolecular cysteine bridges are extensively described in WO 96/13590 to Maertens & Stuyver.
The present invention also relates to any combination of peptides represented by SEQ ID 1 to 38 and functionally equivalent variants or fragments thereof as defined above. The terms “any combination” refers to any possible mixture of above-described peptides or any possible linkage (covalently or otherwise) between above-described peptides. Examples of the latter peptide combinations are simple mixtures, homo- or hetero-branched peptides, combinations of biotinylated peptides presented on streptavidin, avidin or neutravidin, chemically cross-linked peptides with or without spacer, condensed peptides and recombinantly produced peptides.
The present invention relates also an antibody, more particularly a monoclonal antibody, characterized in that it specifically recognizes an HCV-related virus polypeptide as described above.
The present invention also relates to a method for diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV-related viruses comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a combination of peptides as described above, and, determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above or with a combination of peptides as described above. As used herein, the term “a method for diagnosing” refers to any immunoassay known in the art such as assays which utilize biotin and avidin or streptavidin, ELISAs and immunoprecipitation and agglutination assays. A detailed description of these assays is given in WO 96/13590 to Maertens & Stuyver.
In this regard, the present invention also relates to an assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies comprising a solid support, a peptide as described above or a functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof, or combination of peptides as described above, and appropriate markers which allow to determine the complexes formed between anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with a peptide as described above, or a functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof, or combination of peptides as described above.
The term “a solid support” refers to any solid support known in the art. Similarly, the term “appropriate markers” refers to any marker known in the art. It should also be clear that the term “a method for diagnosing” encompasses screening, detection, confirmation, monitoring and serotyping methods.
The present invention further pertains to a bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the binding between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, comprising contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above, and determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above, adding a modulator or a combination of modulators to the contacted anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above, and finally determining the modulation of binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above.
In another embodiment the present invention features a bioassay for identifying compounds which modulate the binding between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, comprising determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above, contacting a modulator with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above, adding anti-HCV-related virus antibodies to the contacted modulator with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above, determining the modulation of binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies with a peptide as described above, or a combination of peptides as described above.
The term “compound” as used herein refers to a composition, which has a molecular weight of less than about 25 KDa, preferably less than 10 KDa, and most preferably less than 5 KDa. Compounds can be nucleic acids, peptides, polypeptides, peptidomimeties, carbohydrates, lipids or other organic or inorganic molecules, or antibodies which may be generated by the host itself upon vaccination. The term “binding” as used herein indicates that a peptide as described above is physically connected to, and interacts with antibodies. Binding of the peptide to the antibody can be demonstrated by any method or assay known in the art such as binding-, ELISA, and RIA-type of assays or competition assays (eg see Examples section and Current protocols in immunology).
The terms “modulation” or “modulate” as used herein refer to both upregulation (i.e., activation or stimulation (e.g., by agonizing or potentiating)) and downregulation (i.e. inhibition or suppression (e.g. by antagonizing, decreasing or inhibiting) of the binding between a peptide and an anti-HCV antibody.
The term “modulator” as used herein refer to the ability of a compound as described above to modulate as described above.
The term “peptidomimetics” as used herein refers to molecules which can be manufactured and which mimic those residues of peptides which modulate the interaction of the antibody with the peptide as described above. For instance, non-hydrolyzable peptide analogs of such residues can be generated using benzodiazepine (e.g., see Freidinger et al. in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), azepine (e.g., see Huffman et al. in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), PNA, substituted gamma lactam rings (Garvey et al. in Peptides: Chemistry and Biology, G. R. Marshall ed., ESCOM Publisher: Leiden, Netherlands, 1988), ketomethylene pseudopeptides (Ewenson et al. (1986) J Med Chem 29:295: and Ewenson et al. in Peptides: Structure and Function (Proceedings of the 9th American Peptide Symposium) Pierce Chemical Co. Rockland, Ill., 1985), β-turn dipeptide cores (Nagai et al. (1985) Tetrahedron Lett 26:647; and Sato et al. (1986) J Chem Soc Perkin Trans 1:1231), and β-aminoalcohols (Gordon et al. (1985) Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 126:419; and Dann et al. (1986) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 134:71).
The present invention pertains to a modulator produced by a bioassay as described above.
The present invention pertains also to a modulator for the interaction between a peptide and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, when said modulators are identified by a bioassay as described above.
The present invention features a composition comprising as an active substance a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above.
The present invention features also a composition comprising as an active substance a modulator as described above or a combination of modulators as described above.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide as described above, operably linked to transcription regulatory elements. Upon introduction in a human tissue said plasmid vector induces the expression in vivo, of the nucleotide sequence thereby producing the encoded protein. If said protein elicits an immunogenic response it is referred to as a DNA vaccine. It is readily apparent to those skilled in the art that variations or derivatives of the nucleotide sequence can be produced which alter the nucleotide sequence. The altered polynucleotide may have an altered nucleic sequence, yet still encodes a protein as described above, and which reacts with anti-HCV-related virus antibodies, and is considered a to be functional equivalent.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition as described herein for use as to vaccinate humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof.
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition as described herein for use as to therapeutically treat humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof.
A composition of the present invention can be, as appropiate, any of the preparations described herein, including peptides, functionally equivalent variants or fragments thereof, a combination of peptides, or modulators (e.g. as identified in the bioassay provided herein). Specifically, the term “a composition” relates to an immunogenic composition capable of eliciting protection against HCV-related virus, in particular against HCV and/or HGV, whether partial or complete. The term “as an active substance” relates to the component of the vaccine composition which elicits protection against HCV-related viruses, in particular against HCV and/or HGV. An active substance (e.g. the peptides or the modulators of the present invention) can be used as such, in a biotinylated form (as explained in WO 93/18054) and/or complexed to Neutralite Avidin according to the manufacturer's instruction sheet (Molecular Probes Inc., Eugene, Oreg.).
It should also be noted that “a composition” comprises, in addition to an active substance, a suitable excipient, diluent, carrier and/or adjuvant which, by themselves, do not induce the production of antibodies harmful to the individual receiving the composition nor do they elicit protection. Suitable carriers are typically large slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric aa's, aa copolymers and inactive virus particles. Such carriers are well known to those skilled in the art. Preferred adjuvants to enhance effectiveness of the composition include, but are not limited to: aluminium hydroxide, aluminium in combination with 3-0-deacylated mononphosphoryl lipid A as described in WO 93/19780, aluminium phosphate as described in WO 93/24148, N-acetyl-muramyl-L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,918, N-acetyl-normuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine,N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamyl-L-alanine2(1′2′dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-hydroxyphosphoryloxy)ethylamine and RIBI (ImmunoChem Research Inc., Hamilton, Mont.), which may contain one or all of the following elements: monophosphoryl lipid A (detoxified endotoxin), trehalose-6,6-dimycolate, and cell wall skeleton (MPL+TDM+CWS) in a 2% squalene/Tween 86 emulsion. Any of the three components MPL, TDM or CWS may also be used alone or combined 2 by 2. Additionally, adjuvants such as Stimulon (Cambridge Bioscience, Worcester, Mass.), MF 57 (Chiron) or SAF-1 (Syntex) may be used,as well as adjuvants such as combinations between QS21 and 3-de-O-acetylated monophosphoryl lipid A (WO94/00153), or MF-59 (Chiron), or poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] based adjuvants (Virus Research Institute), or blockcopolymer based adjuvants such as Optivax (Vaxcel) or Gammalnulin (Anutech), or Gerbu (Gerbu Biotechnik). Furthermore, Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) and Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA) may be used for non-human applications and research purposes. “A composition” will further contain excipients and diluents, which are inherently non-toxic and non-therapeutic, such as water, saline, glycerol, ethanol, wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, preservatives, and the like. Typically, a vaccine composition is prepared as an injectable, either as a liquid solution or suspension. Solid forms, suitable for solution on, or suspension in, liquid vehicles prior to injection may also be prepared. The preparation may also be emulsified or encapsulated in liposomes for enhancing adjuvant effect. The polypeptides may also be incorporated into Immune Stimulating Complexes together with saponins, for example Quil A (ISCOMS). Compositions, which can be used as a vaccine, comprise an immunologically effective amount of the polypeptides of the present invention and/or modulators, as well as any other of the above-mentioned components. “Immunologically effective amount” means that the administration of that amount to an individual, either in a single dosis or as part of a series, is effective for prevention or treatment. This amount varies depending upon the health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, the taxonomic group of the individual to be treated (e.g. nonhuman primate, primate, etc.), the capacity of the individual's immune system to mount an effective immune response, the degree of protection desired, the formulation of the vaccine, the treating's doctor assessment, the strain of the infecting HCV and other relevant factors. It is expected that the amount will fall in a relatively broad range that can be determined through routine trials. Usually, the amount will vary from 0.01 to 1000 μg/dose, more particularly from 0.1 to 100 μg/dose. Compositions, which can be used as a vaccine are conventionally administered parenterally, typically by injection, for example, subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
In the case of DNA vaccines, particular useful methods for eliciting an immune response include the coating of gold particles with the plasmid vector encoding the desired peptide, and injecting them under high pressure into the epidermis and/or dermis, eg by means of a device called gene gun (eg as produced by Powderject Vaccines, Madison, Wis., USA).
Additional formulations suitable for other methods of administration include oral formulations and suppositories. Dosage treatment may be a single dose schedule or a multiple dose schedule. The vaccine may be administered in conjunction with other immunoregulatory agents. It should be noted that a vaccine may also be useful for treatment of an individual, in which case it is used as a to “therapeutically treat humans”.
As used herein, a “plasmid vector” refers to a nucleic acid molecule capable of transporting another nucleic acid to which it has been linked. Preferred vectors are those capable of autonomous replication and/or expression of nucleic acids to which they have been linked. In general, but not limited to those, plasmid vectors are circular double stranded DNA loops which, in their vector form, are not bound to the chromosome. For expression purposes, promoters are required. For DNA vaccination, a very suitable promoter is the Major Immediate Early (MIE) of human cytomegalovirus.
As used herein, a “nucleotide sequence” refers to polynucleotides such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and, where appropriate, ribonucleic acid (RNA). The term should also be understood to include, as equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA made from nucleotide analogs, and single (sense or antisense) and double-stranded polynucleotides.
As used herein, the term “transcription regulatory elements” refers to a nucleotide sequence which contains essential regulatory elements, ie such that upon introduction into a living vertebrate cell it is able to direct the cellular machinery to produce translation products encoded by the polynucleotide.
The term “operably linked” refers to a juxtaposition wherein the components are configured so as to perform their usual function. Thus, transcription regulatory elements operably linked to a nucleotide sequence are capable of effecting the expression of said nucleotide sequence. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that different transcriptional promoters, terminators, carrier vectors or specific gene sequences may be used succesfully.
Finally, the present invention provides a method to immunize humans against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising the use of a peptide as described above or a combination of peptides as described above.
The present invention will now be illustrated by reference to the following examples which set forth particularly advantageous embodiments. However, it should be noted that these embodiments are illustrative and can not be construed as to restrict the invention in any way.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Synthesis of Multimer E1 and E2 Peptides
We aimed at synthesizing peptides which would display epitopes, similar to the ones present on E1 and E2 peptides expressed in mammalian cells. Since such epitopes do not seem to be present in E1 and E2 proteins expressed in E. coli, the design of such peptides was not an easy task. We first aligned E1 and E2 primary amino acid sequences of different HCV genotypes and delineated variable and constant domains. It was reasoned that these domains, or a combination of two or more of these domains might represent conformational domains, ie form or constitute independent conformational units. If displayed as 3D structure, these conformational domains may also contain conformational epitopes. The latter domains may therefore be able to adopt a native-like structure as is present in the envelope proteins when these envelope proteins are expressed in mammalian cells. In contrast, such structures are absent when the envelope proteins are expressed in prokaryotic cells, like E. coli. 
The following domains were assigned: V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6=variable regions; C1, C2, C3, C4=conserved domains; HR=hydrophobic region; SA=signal anchor sequence; HVRI, HVRII=hypervariable regions of E2.












Protein
Region
Amino acid position







E1
V1
192-203



C1
204-217



V2
218-223



C2
224-229



V3
230-242



C3
243-247



V4
248-257



HR
258-293



V5
294-303



C4
304-329



V6
330-342



SA
343-383


E2
HVRI
384-411



C1
412-470



HVRII
471-482



C2
483-521



V3
522-548



C3
549-569



V4
570-580



C4
581-704



SA
705-746









Based on these dormains of the BE11 subtype 1b isolate (SEQ ID 50 in PCT/EP 95/03031), we designed a series long peptides of 24 to 45 amino acids. For some extended domains of the envelope proteins more than one multimer peptide was synthesized in order to encompass the domain of interest. Table 1 gives an overview of the peptides with their respective amino acid positions; numbering starts from the first initiation codon of the HCV polyprotein. Peptides were synthesized using t-Boc technology as explained in detail in WO 93/18054.
Example 2
Reactivity of Multimer Peptides with E1 and E2 Antibodies in Patient Sera
A series of 60 randomly chosen samples from patients with chronic active hepatitis C were tested for reactivity with the multimer peptides. These samples did not show any notable reactivity with 20-mer peptides except for some 20-mer peptides derived from the HVRI. For comparison, reactivity with the hydrophylic ectodomain of E2, the recombinant E2h protein, was assayed (E2h extends from aa 384-708 and was cloned from SEQ ID NO 45, and expressed and purified as described in PCT/EP 95/03031). Peptides were coated onto streptavidin-coated plates (5 μg/ml) and antibodies in serum samples were left to react and detected using the reagents and procedures as described in the package insert of the INNOTEST HCV Ab III kit (Innogenetics, Gent, Belgium). Table 2 shows the results of the ELISA tests, in which a cutoff of 150 mOD was used. In this series, 5 sera did not show reactivity with the E2h protein, only one of these reacted with the HVRI peptide. Five out of 60 sera (8% e.g. sample 17758) only reacted with the E2h protein, 34 (57%) recognized HVRI, 24(40%) reacted with C1-a, 18 (30%) with C1-b, 21 (35%) with HVRII, 17 (28%) C2-a, 22 (37%) with C2-b, 18 (30%) with C3, 18 (30%) with C3′, 17 (28%) with C3′′, 18 (30%) with V4, 22 (37%) with C-4, 21 (35%) with C4-a, 35 (58%) with C4-b, and 24 (40%) with C4-c. This experiment surprisingly learned that, while none of the samples recognized any of the 20-mer peptides, except for those derived from the HVRI, 50 out of 55 (91%) E2h reactive sera could be detected using the peptides of the present invention.
In a second series of 23 sera derived from chronic hepatitis C patients who were long-term responders to interferon-alpha treatment and 3 HCV infected chimpanzees, E1 and E2 antibodies were tested. Eighteen out of 23 samples (78%) reacted with recombinant E1s protein, expressed and purified from mammalian cells as described in PCT/EP95/03031. Nine samples (39%) reacted with the C4V6 region, another 9 (39%) with the V1V2 region, and 3 with V2V3 (Table 4). For comparative purposes peptide V5, ie SQLFTISPRRHETVQD (SEQ ID NO:39), is shown.
Different reactivities to E2 were observed (Table 4) as compared with the first series of samples. 21 samples (91%) reacted with E2h, with 13 (57%) reactive on HVRI, 9 (39%) with C1-a, 11 (48%) with C1-b, 1 with HVRII, C2-a, and C2-b each, 2 with C3, 3 with C4-a, 4 (17%) with C4-b, and 4 (17%) with C4-c. In this series of patients with a benign evolution of disease, the C1 region was more frequently recogniized and fewer antibodies to the C4 region were detected as compared to the series of samples obtained from patients with chronic active hepatitis. These results indicate that peptides from the C1, C2, and C4 regions may be particularly useful in monitoring the course on HCV-related virus disease. More specifically, antibodies to the C1 region may better neutralize HCV as compared to anti-C4 antibodies. The C1 domain may therefore be functionally important, eg exhibit receptor-binding activity. Neutralization of this region may therefore result in lesser activity of the disease and may lead to resolvement. The E2-C1 region may therefore be particularly useful in therapeutic interventions. It should also be noted that, once reactivity to a given domain is established, it can be further mapped to smaller peptides, e.g. reactivities of 1 chimpanzee serum to C3 could be mapped to smaller region of 25 amino acids (peptide C3′′).
Example 3
Monitoring of E1 and E2 Antibodies in Patients with Response to Interferon-alpha Therapy
In Table 5, results of E2 antibody tests as described in example 2 are given for consecutive samples obtained from patients with response to interferon therapy. A decline in E2Ab, and to a larger extend E1Ab, has been described in PCT/EP 95/03031 in case of a long-term response to interferon treatment. Reactivities to several peptides of the present invention also show similar declining levels. Peculiar reactivities could sometimes be detected as exemplified in patient 2: upon the detection of reappearing virus, antibody responses to the (E1)V4V5 region and the (E2)HVRII region could be detected; these quickly disappeared simultaneously with viral clearance. (E1)V4V5 and (E2)HVRII may therefore be particularly useful peptides for disease monitoring, especially in treatment of disease. Other peptides such as (E2)C1 (example 2) and those shown in bold in Table 5 also seem to be useful for purposes such as monitoring. Table 2 also shows the presence of reactivity in patient 2 to a new peptide HVRI-C1, which overlaps the junction between HVRI and C1 (Table 2), in the absence of detectable reactivity to the HVRI or C1 peptides. Similarly, peptide C4-bc encompassing the region between C4-b and C4-c (Table 2), was tested in this series, and showed almost identical reactivities as compared to peptide C4-b. Therefore, it is possible that the C4-b epitope lies between aa 658 and 673, but surprisingly, the epitope does not seem to be presented in peptide SEQ ID 92 of PCT/EP 95/03031 (aa 655-674). The C4-c epitope is not present in C4-bc and therefore can be localized between aa 683 and 706.
Example 4
Application to Other Flaviviruses
To examine the applicability of the invention to envelope proteins of other HCV-related viruses, a peptide spanning the V1V2 region of the hepatitis G virus (GBV-C; Linnen et al., 1996; Simons et al., 1996) E1 region was synthesized, see also SEQ ID NO 38 (Table 1): NH2-THACRANGQYFLTNCCAPEDIGFCLEGGCLVALGGK-biotin.
So far, only reactivity to the complete HGV E2 protein seemed to be useful in the diagnosis of HGV. Peptide epitopes have not yet been described for GBV envelope proteins E1 or E2. Sixteen HGV RNA-positive sera were tested and 1 of these was reactive with the E1 peptide as shown in Table 6. Antibody reactivity to the recombinant HGV E2 protein (but not to HGV E2 peptides) is found in up to 15% of the European population, but cases with both HGV RNA and E2Ab are rare as they probably represent cases in which seroconversion and elimination of the virus is ongoing. Antibody reactivity to the HGV E1 protein has not yet been reported. Therefore, the HGV E1 peptide V1V2 is new and it may display higher reactivities in a series of HGV anti-E2 reactive sera. Using similar approaches as described in the present invention, HGV E2 peptides may also be synthesized. Multimer peptides from GBV-A or GBV-B can be synthesized in a similar approach as described for HCV and HGV.
Example 5
Reactivity of 20mer E2 Peptides Compared to Multimer E2Peptides
E2 peptides listed in Table 1 were analyzed for their reactivity with 32 serum samples from patients with chronic active hepatitis C. In addition, a series of overlapping 20-mer peptides were synthesized with exactly the same HCV subtype 1b sequence as used for the longer peptides and as shown in Table 1. The ELISA test used was the same as described in Example 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the reactivities of the series of 20-mer and longer peptides, respectively. Peptides with a sum of >5 (HVR I, HVR I/C1, C1a, C1b, C4a, C4b, C4c, C4b-c) were considered to be very useful for the detection of antibodies directed against E2. A total of six of these peptides (peptides C4b-c and C1a were not included as these peptides are almost entirely represented by other peptides) were combined together with 20-mer peptide 1350 (Table 1), which occasionally reacted with some patient sera. The combination of these peptides was tested on a panel of 128 sera from chronic active HCV carriers. Hundred and twenty six of these sera tested positive on recombinant E2s protein. Of these 126 sera, 33 sera showed at least two times higher OD values with the peptide mixture as compared to the recombinant E2 protein, 64 sera showed a similar reactivity, 16 sera showed reactivities which were 2- to 4-fold higher with the recombinant protein than with the peptide mixture, and 13 sera only reacted with the recombinant protein.
In summary, almost 90% of the sera containing antibodies against recombinant E2 protein could be detected using the above peptide mixture. For 26% of the sera, detection was even better using the peptides of the invention, than using recombinant E2 protein. A sum of OD values of >5, ie exhibited by peptides HVR I, HVR I/C1, C1a, C1b, C4a, C4b, C4c, and C4b-c (FIG. 4) is therefore considered a surprisingly high value for the serodiagnosis of antibodies directed against the E2 protein of HCV. From the experiment described above, it is also clear that a combination of recombinant E2 with the peptides of the invention is a particularly useful composition. Given the variability of the E2 protein in different HCV genotypes, the addition of genotype-specific peptides to recombinant E2 proteins may be a desired way of improving sensitivity of E2 antibody assays. For example, a variant of peptide C1a based on a reported HCV type 2a sequence HC-J6 could be LINTNGSWHINRTALNCNDSLHTGFLASLFYTHSF (SEQ ID NO:40), and similar useful variants e.g. based on a genotype 3a sequence, could be synthesized and tested for reactivity. It should be noted that the HCV E2 protein may contain insertions or deletions in any given HCV genotype. For example, while subtype 1a and 1b sequences show contiguous sequences which can be aligned without having to insert gaps, HCV type 2a isolates encode E2 proteins which are 4 aa's longer as compared t type 1 sequences. For example, 2 additional amino acids are inserted in HCV type 2a and 2b sequences around hypervariable region II (HVR II). Therefore, a potentially useful variant of peptide HVRII, based on the HC-J6 prototype 2a sequence, would be RSIEAFRVGWGALQYEDNVTNPEDMRPYCW (SEQ ID NO:41), which is a 30-mer peptide while the subtype 1 b sequence based peptide depicted in Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:20) is only 28 aa's long. The two glutamates (symbol E) which are inserted in the subtype 2a sequence are shown underlined. Similar peptides can be easily constructed based on sequences and alignments previously published (e.g. Maertens and Stuyver, 1997).
LIST OF REFERENCES


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TABLE 1






GENO



SEQ ID


PROTEIN
TYPE
PEPTIDE
AMINO ACID SEQUENCE
POSITION
NUMBER







E1
1a
V1V2T1a
YQVRNSTGLYHVTNDCPNSSIVYEAADAILHTPGC
192-226
Seq ID 1



1b
V1V2T1b
YEVRNVSGIYHVTNDCSNSSIVYEAADMIMHTPGC
192-226
Seq ID 2



2c
V1V2T2c
VEVKNNSNSYMATNDCSNSSIIWQLEGAVLHTPGC
192-226
Seq ID 3



2c
V1V2T2c
VEVKNTSTSYMVTNDCSNSSIVWQLEGAVLHTPGC
192-226
Seq ID 4



3a
V1V2T3a
LEWRNTSGLYVLTNDCSNSSIVYEADDVILHTPGC
192-226
Seq ID 5



3a
V2T3a
LTNDCSNSSIVYEADDVILHTPGC
203-226
Seq ID 6



4c/4k
V1V2T4a
INYRNVSGIYHVTNDCPNSSIVYEADHHILHLPGC
192-226
Seq ID 7



5a
V1V2T5a
VPYRNASGIYHITNDCPNSSIVYEADNLILHAPGC
192-226
Seq ID 8



6a
V1V2T6a
LTYGNSSGLYHLTNDCSNSSIVLEADAMILHLPGC
192-226
Seq ID 9



1b
V2V3
IVYEAADMIMHTPGCVPCVRENNSSRCWV
212-240
Seq ID 10



1b
V3V4
VRENNSSRCWVALTPTLAARNASVPTTTIRRHVD
230-263
Seq ID 11



1b
PC-V3V4
PCVRENNSSRCWVALTPTLAARNASVPTTTIRRHVD
228-263
Seq ID 12



1b
HR
HVDLLVGAAAFCSAMYVGDLCGSVFLVSQL
260-290
Seq ID 13



1b
V5C4
SQLFTISPRRHETVQDCNCSIYPGHITGHRMAWDMMMNWS
288-327
Seq ID 14



1b
C4V6
SIYPGHITGHRMAWDMMMNWSPTTALVVSQLLRI
307-340
Seq ID 15



1b
SA
PQAVVDMVAGAHWGVLAGLAYYSMVGNWAKVLVVMLLFAGV
341-381
Seq ID 16



1b
V4V5
VALTPTLAARNASVPTTTIRRHVDSQLFTISPRRHETVQD
240-303
Seq ID 37


E1 (HGV)
ND
V1V2
THACRANGQYFLTNCCAPEDIGFCLEGGCLVALGGK
ND
Seq ID 38


E2
1b
HVR I
HTRVSGGAAASNTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVN
384-415
Seq ID 17



1b
C1a
LVNTNGSWHINRTALNCNDSLQTGFFAALFYKHKF
413-447
Seq ID 18



1b
C1b
NDSLQTGFFAALFYKHKFNSSGCPERLASCRSIDKFAQ
430-467
Seq ID 19



1b
HVR II
RSIDKFAQGWGPLTYTEPNSSDQRPYCW
460-487
Seq ID 20



1b
C2a
SDQRPYCWHYAPRPCGIVPASQVCGPVYCFTPSP
480-513
Seq ID 21



1b
C2b
SQVCGPVYCFTPSPVVVGTTDRFGVPTYNWG
500-530
Seq ID 22



1b
V3C3
GVPTYNWGANDSDVLILNNTRPPRGNWFGCTWMNGTGFTKTCGG
523-566
Seq ID 23



1b
V3C3′
ANDSDVLILNNTRPPRGNWFGCTWMNGTGFTKTCGG
531-566
Seq ID 24



1b
C3′′
TRPPRGNWFGCTWMNGTGFTKTCGG
542-566
Seq ID 25



1b
V4
TKTCGGPPCNIGGAGNNTLTCPTDCFRKHP
561-590
Seq ID 26



1b
C4
TDCFRKHPEATYARCGSGPWLTPRCMVHYPYRLWHYPCTVNFTIF
583-627
Seq ID 27



1b
C4′
ARCGSGPWLTPRCMVHYPYRLWHYPCTVNFTIF
595-627
Seq ID 28



1b
C4′′
LTPRCMVHYPYRLWHYPCTVNFTIF
603-627
Seq ID 29



1b
C4a
TVNFTIFKVRMYVGGVEHRFEAACNWTR
621-648
Seq ID 30



1b
C4b
EAACNWTRGERCDLEDRDRSELSPLLLSTTEWQ
641-673
Seq ID 31



1b
C4c
QWQILPCSFTTLPALSTGLIHLHQNIVDVQYLYGVG
671-706
Seq ID 32



1b
SA
GVGSAVVSLVIKWEYVLLLFLLLADARICACLWMMLLIAQAE
704-745
Seq ID 33



1b
HVR I/C1
NTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNTNGSWHINRTALN
395-428
Seq ID 34



1b
C4b-c
DRSELSPLLLSTTEWQILPCSFTTLPALSTG
658-688
Seq ID 35



1b
1350
VGTTDRFGVPTYNWGANDSD
516-535
Seq ID 36

































TABLE 2





Sample






E2-13









Rec


#
HVR I
C1-a
C1-b
HVR II
C2-a
C2-b
B
C3
C3′
C3′′
V4
C4
C4-a
C4-b
C4-c
SA
E2
































17758
69
48
47
52
49
48
47
49
38
44
43
52
44
55
48
46
1355


17763
88
54
44
49
52
48
51
51
46
45
48
49
45
133
104
50
361


17764
100
148
138
134
128
136
141
136
136
65
130
145
144
242
128
127
371


17766
91
97
145
96
80
87
90
90
95
47
75
89
163
139
99
86
173


17771
307
79
54
65
51
50
65
68
50
45
60
65
59
96
132
58
393


17775
49
50
46
39
50
271
43
51
48
45
50
55
52
54
47
50
228


17777
60
133
105
130
129
123
118
118
130
95
119
133
129
357
177
113
850


17779
373
328
285
330
284
343
281
323
316
283
297
318
343
341
309
282
720


17785
81
80
73
71
76
66
81
70
74
70
69
79
79
87
119
73
146


11786
341
863
693
152
164
179
148
139
146
136
137
158
160
163
148
157
720


17788
111
553
120
137
69
121
121
119
111
110
103
140
132
131
48
47
934


17789
1316
49
47
46
49
45
53
51
48
43
42
50
49
52
48
48
1178


11790
234
233
182
223
130
224
185
185
186
184
179
216
218
1347
853
207
1534


17791
269
194
177
192
123
203
172
192
157
184
184
200
195
211
187
190
287


17797
260
264
248
257
240
281
249
237
246
221
223
283
261
272
231
243
1357


17798
52
53
50
47
52
54
50
53
49
51
50
51
50
1036
51
51
1161


17799
225
89
81
86
85
100
76
85
87
82
84
86
92
115
86
76
362


17802
42
51
44
47
50
133
48
52
51
48
51
56
76
773
157
56
882


17807
49
133
60
59
66
62
62
59
57
56
57
63
65
62
57
52
605


17808
89
121
117
109
106
1051
118
875
133
116
123
126
393
228
109
126
1354


17810
327
220
199
222
195
200
221
182
197
182
196
209
266
222
195
199
422


17818
224
134
115
126
118
115
128
108
109
98
111
113
112
117
109
108
230


17821
671
243
214
282
238
232
228
217
234
197
216
222
218
557
810
205
1046


17825
397
320
264
284
282
286
289
277
276
274
276
306
273
391
399
277
514


17826
92
109
111
99
114
126
113
98
104
84
105
121
122
126
145
113
695


17827
45
47
46
47
48
49
48
49
49
47
49
50
50
261
113
47
320


17832
151
65
55
70
78
63
77
72
68
59
64
70
62
54
57
49
288


17838
212
167
166
164
156
165
164
146
160
154
150
165
165
161
272
157
305


17839
48
94
117
61
61
51
58
51
46
52
58
55
87
60
95
66
182


17840
318
323
347
317
329
338
320
305
326
302
312
343
355
322
318
337
417


17842
161
174
185
176
168
163
159
157
163
156
150
168
151
154
138
153
195


17844
122
94
90
88
98
78
92
88
84
77
85
94
61
214
51
73
166


17849
1469
68
75
49
54
629
52
53
46
46
51
54
119
1102
55
47
1393


17870
125
236
148
114
128
133
135
116
132
109
135
151
118
293
120
45
197


17879
209
195
201
222
195
215
225
191
194
181
218
209
209
255
253
199
325


17983
438
54
50
48
52
46
50
54
46
46
51
52
46
55
53
48
216


17999
276
201
200
202
190
187
191
169
176
150
190
205
186
321
535
198
697


 8242
162
114
114
127
140
114
120
117
103
120
117
107
112
161
152
128
340


 8243
188
191
171
175
204
172
189
174
186
174
176
205
200
206
177
178
225


 8247
248
169
137
127
120
110
122
96
111
104
114
128
104
130
150
118
215


 8250
129
161
127
150
164
144
154
125
134
122
142
151
125
146
137
140
165


 8317
112
131
115
123
113
111
144
95
103
95
108
118
108
158
126
111
198


 8320
463
433
337
473
435
445
363
345
503
384
362
369
405
446
432
378
474


 8329
119
126
123
160
143
145
142
117
135
121
122
126
131
152
148
132
163


 8330
198
271
210
210
207
196
216
178
194
206
209
215
186
356
45
51
536


 8332
154
141
128
141
132
116
129
110
123
112
135
140
123
147
312
144
290


 8333
57
67
50
51
52
52
50
54
50
50
50
56
48
480
65
52
1108


 8334
283
66
64
80
68
69
84
79
65
52
67
74
72
180
191
90
348


 8337
162
105
99
108
103
92
104
86
93
80
101
107
108
124
118
110
142


 8339
50
49
52
62
54
46
54
51
47
41
51
55
53
413
49
50
247


 8344
59
52
50
51
58
48
54
52
47
48
55
53
58
63
63
60
59


 8351
163
114
105
111
101
91
98
97
92
78
110
111
115
141
179
112
154


 8362
211
54
50
47
55
119
53
53
44
45
51
54
59
60
58
55
165


 8364
110
308
106
112
112
107
98
102
108
92
116
152
133
208
169
132
671


 8365
69
84
94
67
77
74
55
73
70
69
70
79
73
69
88
66
86


 8367
218
189
171
201
204
174
191
156
158
140
183
186
294
197
186
171
303


 8374
575
113
95
114
110
93
100
92
106
88
103
125
118
112
111
106
143


 8377
364
232
229
225
211
202
233
189
207
170
209
205
230
234
218
221
293


 8382
314
211
187
196
207
173
208
181
158
150
181
187
201
223
189
211
265


 8383
51
100
102
55
58
48
57
53
53
50
52
57
66
94
63
56
285


V1200
52
55
52
56
55
53
50
54
50
52
51
50
50
52
53
54
50


V1201
118
147
138
136
224
144
123
137
140
111
135
154
166
171
137
155
162


V1202
274
308
284
170
290
286
282
248
277
229
271
306
287
330
268
295
329


V1204
130
134
135
127
141
128
79
113
119
106
131
144
145
144
130
144
159



















TABLE 3









E1 antigens
















Sample #
No peptide
V1V2
V2V3
V3V4
HR/SA
V5
C4V6
rec E1s


















No sample
0.011
0.007
0.011
0.014
0.009
0.007
0.009
0.056


30108
0.03
0.035
0.04
0.034
0.032
0.03
0.234
0.378


30109
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.028
0.024
0.026
0.227
0.368


30110
0.021
0.545
0.02
0.019
0.016
0.017
0.047
0.669


30111
0.017
0.614
0.019
0.018
0.017
0.015
0.064
0.796


30112
0.037
0.069
0.035
0.034
0.031
0.031
0.048
0.187


30113
0.042
0.083
0.136
0.039
0.034
0.035
0.063
0.226


30114
0.042
0.099
0.036
0.035
0.035
0.037
0.058
0.267


30115
0.021
0.114
0.023
0.021
0.02
0.02
0.189
0.339


30116
0.019
0.442
0.025
0.022
0.022
0.018
0.056
0.645


30117
0.027
0.062
0.047
0.043
0.041
0.038
0.066
0.164


30118
0.122
0.216
0.126
0.12
0.11
0.125
0.696
0.923


30119
0.023
0.028
0.031
0.028
0.023
0.024
0.23
0.426


30120
0.025
0.024
0.027
0.025
0.039
0.027
0.03
0.024


30121
0.03
0.033
0.033
0.029
0.052
0.034
0.037
0.032


30122
0.029
0.031
0.056
0.03
0.052
0.033
0.035
0.03


30123
0.085
0.081
0.076
0.075
0.087
0.071
0.094
0.137


30124
0.022
0.084
0.022
0.022
0.023
0.022
0.193
0.391


30125
0.095
0.128
0.091
0.089
0.172
0.159
0.47
0.708


17805
0.038
0.051
0.039
0.033
0.09
0.154
0.738
1.169


13059
0.011
0.011
0.012
0.012
0.014
0.012
0.229
0.681


Chimp1
0.095
0.38
0.276
0.126
0.098
0.095
0.099
0.805


Chimp2
0.026
0.234
0.143
0.035
0.036
0.038
0.354
0.822


Chimp3
0.018
0.017
0.02
0.022
0.023
0.019
0.141
0.353



















TABLE 4









E2 antigens
























Sample
peptide
HVR I
C1-a
C1-b
HVR II
C2-a
C2-b
C3
C3′
C3′′
V4
C4
C4-a
C4-b
C4-c
recE2h


























No sample
0.006
0.009
0.011
0.015
0.007
0.006
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.007
0.007
0.009
0.032


30108
0.036
0.747
0.848
0.969
0.032
0.033
0.03
0.04
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.041
0.026
0.031
0.988


30109
0.027
0.849
0.93
1.053
0.027
0.032
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.038
0.023
0.026
1.079


30110
0.018
0.026
0.021
0.044
0.019
0.024
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.023
0.026
0.056
0.11


30111
0.017
0.02
0.021
0.088
0.018
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.022
0.028
0.07
0.137


30112
0.037
0.092
0.052
0.177
0.044
0.048
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.05
0.043
0.562
0.053
0.947


30113
0.045
0.104
0.054
0.276
0.051
0.047
0.05
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.05
0.054
0.633
0.07
1.003


30114
0.045
0.112
0.075
0.726
0.046
0.041
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.06
0.054
0.646
0.067
1.065


30115
0.022
0.982
0.034
0.064
0.025
0.025
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.03
0.097
0.031
0.413


30116
0.015
0.023
0.02
0.04
0.017
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.023
0.022
0.046
0.084


30117
0.04
0.087
0.048
0.119
0.037
0.044
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.041
0.547
0.049
0.935


30118
0.112
0.213
0.122
0.119
0.119
0.121
0.12
0.12
0.11
0.05
0.11
0.1
0.117
0.105
0.2
0.289


30119
0.03
0.954
1.012
1.128
0.026
0.029
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.035
0.026
0.03
1.123


30120
0.031
0.427
0.208
0.208
0.03
0.033
0.03
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.033
0.032
0.032
0.577


30121
0.033
0.734
0.463
0.398
0.037
0.042
0.04
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.04
0.03
0.04
0.034
0.037
0.963


30122
0.03
0.661
0.413
0.365
0.043
0.034
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.038
0.03
0.034
0.907


30123
0.079
0.11
0.576
0.789
0.09
0.108
0.09
0.08
0.08
0.06
0.07
0.06
0.091
0.078
0.077
0.916


30124
0.02
0.939
0.041
0.065
0.028
0.237
0.04
0.04
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.038
0.108
0.049
0.4


30125
0.096
0.133
0.103
0.096
0.097
0.115
0.15
0.14
0.09
0.09
0.09
0.1
0.1
0.092
0.183
0.227


17805
0.042
0.255
0.074
0.078
0.071
0.045
0.06
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.06
0.04
0.163
0.043
0.831
0.881


13059
0.013
0.47
0.02
0.019
0.018
0.022
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.36
0.052
0.904
0.944


Chimp1
0.102
0.103
0.116
0.118
0.23
0.109
0.12
0.19
0.17
0.19
0.1
0.1
0.087
0.098
0.095
0.581


Chimp2
0.028
0.181
0.261
0.261
0.056
0.032
0.03
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.04
0.188
0.035
0.033
1.008


Chimp3
0.058
0.035
0.162
0.086
0.026
0.062
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.023
0.02
0.026
1.327




















TABLE 5









HCV
E1 peptides


















Sample
PCR
Genotype
V1V2
V2V3
V3V4
V4V5
HR/SA
V5C4
C4V5
E1s




















Patient 1












14/8/90
pos
3a
0.014
0.03
0.06
0.034
0.037
0.048
0.045
0.051


01/06/91


0.03
0.032
0.064
0.041
0.041
0.051
0.048
0.045


20/9/91
neg

0.06
0.064
0.064
0.037
0.039
0.05
0.398
0.045


13/3/92


0.034
0.041
0.037
0.034
0.037
0.046
0.044
0.04


04/09/92
neg

0.037
0.041
0.039
0.037
0.037
0.052
0.048
0.043


24/9/93


0.048
0.051
0.05
0.046
0.052
0.048
0.047
0.042


20/10/94
neg

0.045
0.048
0.398
0.044
0.048
0.047
0.045
0.041


23/10/95


0.051
0.045
0.045
0.04
0.043
0.042
0.041
0.051


10/12/96
pos?

0.037
0.041
0.033
0.034
0.035
0.039
0.038
0.045


Patient 2


15/2/90


0.106
0.103
0.104
0.108
0.104
0.949
0.872
1.03


03/05/90
pos
1a
0.103
0.109
0.106
0.104
0.108
0.828
0.859
1.04


04/12/90


0.096
0.103
0.105
0.103
0.095
0.737
0.848
1.218


23/9/91


0.063
0.078
0.078
0.067
0.072
0.318
0.354
0.66


14/4/92


0.099
0.106
0.099
0.1
0.096
0.219
0.255
0.491


18/12/92


0.104
0.106
0.102
0.105
0.101
0.222
0.249
0.448


26/3/93


0.089
0.095
0.09
0.085
0.082
0.168
0.194
0.357


30/9/93
neg

0.092
0.081
0.089
0.09
0.088
0.17
0.18
0.35


17/6/94
pos
1a
0.084
0.09
0.096
0.599
0.095
0.154
0.166
0.32


18/12/95


0.072
0.077
0.077
0.077
0.081
0.111
0.121
0.206


23/12/96
neg

0.065
0.078
0.074
0.073
0.078
0.106
0.108
0.199


Patient 3


15/04/93


0.005
0.006
0.005
0.004
0.006
0.005
0.006
0.007


06/09/94
pos
3a
0.007
0.008
0.007
0.008
0.007
0.006
0.006
0.009


30/10/95
neg

0.007
0.01
0.009
0.009
0.009
0.008
0.007
0.011


18/11/96
pos?
1b
0.012
0.012
0.012
0.011
0.01
0.009
0.009
0.012


Patient 4


12/04/91
pos
1a
0.006
0.007
0.006
0.006
0.007
0.006
0.006
0.01


23/09/91
neg

0.01
0.01
0.008
0.009
0.009
0.006
0.008
0.013


27/07/92
neg

0.007
0.009
0.007
0.008
0.007
0.006
0.007
0.01


11/06/93
neg

0.009
0.011
0.009
0.01
0.009
0.007
0.006
0.011


29/11/96
pos
1a
0.007
0.01
0.008
0.007
0.007
0.005
0.006
0.008


Patient 5


18/09/92
pos

0.017
0.01
0.008
0.007
0.008
0.178
0.196
0.537


17/12/93
neg

0.012
0.014
0.011
0.01
0.011
0.039
0.04
0.231


15/11/96
neg

0.012
0.014
0.012
0.01
0.01
0.026
0.017
0.116


Patient 6


10/05/90
pos

0.311
0.006
0.007
0.005
0.006
0.004
0.01
0.544


11/10/91
neg

0.284
0.007
0.007
0.006
0.007
0.006
0.013
0.605


Patient 7


10/10/91
pos
1b
0.009
0.01
0.009
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.01
0.043


18/12/92
neg

0.01
0.011
0.011
0.009
0.009
0.008
0.011
0.043


28/06/93
neg

0.006
0.006
0.007
0.006
0.007
0.005
0.008
0.021


10/03/97
pos
1b
0.008
0.008
0.007
0.008
0.007
0.006
0.008
0.012


Patient 8


19/08/91
neg

0.008
0.009
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.006
0.008
0.009


17/07/95
pos
1b
0.01
0.009
0.009
0.009
0.006
0.007
0.007
0.018


09/10/95
pos
1b
0.007
0.007
0.008
0.005
0.006
0.007
0.007
0.009


15/12/95
neg

0.008
0.009
0.008
0.009
0.008
0.007
0.007
0.011


04/03/96
neg

0.009
0.011
0.01
0.011
0.009
0.008
0.007
0.01


02/09/96
neg

0.01
0.011
0.011
0.01
0.01
0.008
0.008
0.013


Patient 9


26/08/91
pos
1b/2ac
0.044
0.015
0.022
0.023
0.028
0.031
0.034
0.115


21/12/93
neg

0.033
0.017
0.021
0.027
0.022
0.025
0.023
0.048


20/12/94
pos
1b
0.023
0.016
0.015
0.028
0.019
0.028
0.034
0.077


21/12/95
pos
1b
0.019
0.029
0.024
0.027
0.027
0.031
0.034
0.048


Patient 10


27/04/92
pos
1b
0.128
0.024
0.02
0.023
0.026
0.118
0.449
0.68


01/06/93
neg

0.107
0.03
0.029
0.027
0.026
0.098
0.385
0.667


Patient 11


09/11/90
neg

0.018
0.019
0.012
0.013
0.015
0.087
0.141
0.591


12/07/91
pos
1b
0.023
0.023
0.016
0.02
0.018
0.073
0.1
0.466


28/05/93
pos

0.008
0.009
0.009
0.005
0.008
0.123
0.173
0.495


20/01/95
neg

0.011
0.009
0.008
0.007
0.007
0.026
0.047
0.187


08/01/96
neg

0.012
0.013
0.01
0.009
0.009
0.025
0.031
0.21


07/02/97
neg

0.019
0.019
0.014
0.014
0.013
0.027
0.051
0.203


Patient 12


11/05/92
pos
1b
0.017
0.013
0.011
0.014
0.015
0.227
0.173
0.425


26/02/93
neg

0.022
0.014
0.013
0.013
0.014
0.178
0.264
0.417


12/08/93
pos
1b
0.016
0.016
0.016
0.014
0.015
0.29
0.387
0.63


Patient 13


07/01/91
pos
1b
0.027
0.017
0.021
0.026
0.026
0.04
0.074
0.062


19/08/91
neg

0.018
0.018
0.015
0.013
0.012
0.021
0.009
0.043


21/08/92
pos

0.015
0.012
0.015
0.014
0.017
0.015
0.021
0.023


06/08/93
neg

0.019
0.018
0.016
0.021
0.016
0.01
0.011
0.02


06/03/95
pos
1b
0.027
0.026
0.018
0.015
0.018
0.02
0.023
0.028


12/04/96
neg

0.03
0.017
0.018
0.036
0.021
0.027
0.027
0.022


Patient 14


22/11/94
pos
1b
0.016
0.011
0.013
0.013
0.026
0.318
0.437
0.461


11/10/95
pos

0.024
0.014
0.014
0.018
0.019
0.039
0.061
0.059


15/02/96
neg

0.032
0.022
0.021
0.023
0.016
0.031
0.041
0.102


Patient 15


04/12/90
pos
1b
0.003
0.005
0.005
0.004
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.019


29/11/90
neg

0.005
0.005
0.005
0.006
0.005
0.008
0.006
0.011


09/10/92
pos
1b
0.006
0.008
0.007
0.007
0.007
0.006
0.005
0.012


25/03/96
neg

0.006
0.008
0.007
0.006
0.006
0.004
0.007
0.012


Patient 16


16/12/91
pos
3a
0.003
0.004
0.006
0.004
0.004
0.08
0.102
0.435


04/10/93
neg

0.006
0.007
0.007
0.006
0.008
0.028
0.033
0.253


12/09/94
neg

0.004
0.008
0.006
0.005
0.005
0.034
0.038
0.197


09/09/96
neg

0.004
0.008
0.007
0.006
0.005
0.008
0.013
0.08


Patient 17


24/04/97
pos
1b
0.076
0.006
0.008
0.004
0.009
0.203
0.327
1.196


Patient 18


08/01/97
neg

0.006
0.007
0.007
0.007
0.006
0.006
0.008
0.009


Blank


0.006
0.009
0.009
0.006
0.006
0.007
0.006
0.009
















TABLE 6

## Claims

1. An isolated HCV E2 envelope peptide as defined by any of SEQ ID NOs: 18-36.

2. An isolated HCV E2 envelope peptide consisting of up to 45 contiguous amino acids wherein an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 18-36 is present in said peptide.

3. An isolated peptide selected from the group consisting of:
a peptide of 21 to 27 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:20 or 30; 
a peptide of 21 to 29 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:26; 
a peptide of 21 to 30 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:22 or 35; 
a peptide of 21 to 31 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:17 or 34; 
a peptide of 21 to 32 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:31; 
a peptide of 21 to 33 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:21; 
a peptide of 21 to 34 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:18; 
a peptide of 21 to 35 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:32; 
a peptide of 21 to 37 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:19; 
a peptide of 21 to 41 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:33; 
a peptide of 21 to 43 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:23; and 
a peptide of 21 to 44 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO:27.

4. The isolated peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3 which is synthesized chemically.

5. The isolated peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3 which is synthesized using recombinant DNA techniques.

6. The isolated peptide of claim 5 wherein said peptide is synthesized using a plasmid vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding said peptide operably linked to transcription regulatory elements.

7. The isolated peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3 which is biotinylated or which is containing cysteine bridges.

8. The isolated peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3 which binds and recognizes anti-HCV-related virus antibodies.

9. The isolated peptide of claim 7 which binds and recognizes anti-HCV-related virus antibodies.

10. A combination of peptides comprising a peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3.

11. A combination of peptides comprising a peptide of claim 7.

12. A combination of peptides comprising a peptide of claim 8.

13. A composition comprising an isolated peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3.

14. A composition comprising an isolated peptide of claim 7.

15. A composition comprising an isolated peptide of claim 8.

16. An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising at least one peptide of any of claims 1, 2 and 3.

17. An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of claim 7.

18. An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of claim 8.

19. An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of claim 10.

20. An assay kit for detecting the presence of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid comprising a combination of peptides of claim 11.

21. A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3.

22. A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to claim 4.

23. A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to claim 5.

24. A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to claim 6.

25. A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human at least one peptide according to claim 7.

26. A method of immunizing a human against infection with HCV-related virus or any mutated strain thereof, comprising administering to said human a combination of peptides according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3.

27. A method for diagnosing exposure to or infection by HCV-related viruses comprising:
contacting anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with at least one peptide according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, determining the binding of anti-HCV-related virus antibodies within a sample of body fluid with said at least one peptide.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said anti-HCV-related virus antibodies are anti-HCV antibodies.

29. A bioassay for identifying a compounds which modulate the interaction between a peptide according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 and an anti-HCV-related virus antibody, said bioassay comprising
(i) determining the binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody; 
(ii) contacting said peptide with said compound; 
(iii) adding said anti-HCV-related virus antibody to the peptide-compound complex formed in (ii); 
(iv) after (iii), determining the binding between said peptide and said compound; 
inferring, from (i) and (iv) the modulation of binding between said peptide and said anti-HCV-related virus antibody by said compound.