Patent ID: 7632511

Claim:
A method to reduce hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or at least one symptom resulting from HCV infection in a subject, comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising: a) a yeast vehicle; and b) an HCV NS3-Core fusion protein comprising HCV sequences, wherein the HCV sequences consist of: i) an HCV NS3 protease sequence consisting of the 262 amino acids of HCV NS3 protease following the initial N-terminal 88 amino acids of full-length HCV NS3 protease (positions 1115 to 1376 with respect to SEQ ID NO:20); and ii) an HCV Core sequence consisting of amino acid positions 2 through 140 of full-length HCV Core sequence (positions 2 to 140, with respect to SEQ ID NO:20); wherein the HCV fusion protein is expressed by the yeast vehicle; wherein the composition elicits an HCV NS3-specific immune response and an HCV Core-specific immune response; and wherein administration of the composition to the subject reduces HCV infection or at least one symptom resulting from HCV infection in a subject.