Abstract: Aspects of the present invention concern compositions that induce and/or improve an immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods of making and using compositions that include epitopes of the HCV E2 structural protein involved in promoting or inhibiting neutralization of HCV are provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention concern compositions that induce and/or improve an immune response to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods of making and using compositions that include epitopes of the HCV E2 structural protein involved in promoting or inhibiting neutralization of HCV are provided.

Abstract: Provided are an isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence DLMGYIPAV (SEQ ID NO: 1), an isolated HCV core polypeptide comprising an L?A substitution at amino acid position 139, an isolated HCV core polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and a fragment of an HCV core polypeptide having fewer amino acids than the entire HCV core polypeptide and comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the peptides and polypeptides of this invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acids of this invention and cells comprising the vectors and nucleic acids of this invention. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response in a subject and/or treating or preventing HCV infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject, or to a cell of the subject, any of the compositions of this invention.

Abstract: Methods for enhancing the production of viral vaccines in cell culture are described, as are the cell cultures. These methods rely on the suppression of the levels of ADAR1 in interferon-deficient cells. The methods comprise (a) infecting a cell culture with a donor virus, wherein said cell culture is an interferon-deficient cell culture that is deficient in ADAR1 activity; (b) culturing said infected cell culture under conditions sufficient to provide efficient virus growth; and (c) harvesting the virus produced.

Abstract: Provided are an isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence DLMGYIPAV (SEQ ID NO: 1), an isolated HCV core polypeptide comprising an L?A substitution at amino acid position 139, an isolated HCV core polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, and a fragment of an HCV core polypeptide having fewer amino acids than the entire HCV core polypeptide and comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the peptides and polypeptides of this invention, vectors comprising the nucleic acids of this invention and cells comprising the vectors and nucleic acids of this invention. Further provided are methods of producing an immune response in a subject and/or treating or preventing HCV infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject, or to a cell of the subject, any of the compositions of this invention.

Abstract: A modification of the PCR technique is described which allows fragments of RNA or DNA to be amplified without prior knowledge of their sequence. The technique can be used to amplify viral nucleic acids present in small amounts in clinical material allowing, for example, the diagnosis of a particular virus infection or the discovery of new viruses.