Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptides, and nucleic acids encoding them, derived from the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The peptides are those which elicit a CTL and/or HTL response in a host. The invention is also directed to compositions and vaccines for prevention and treatment of HCV infection and diagnostic methods for detection of HCV exposure in patients.

Abstract: The invention relates to anti-HCV antibodies and more specifically to neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies and their variable and complementarity determining regions (CDR). In particular, the neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies are neutralizing anti-HCV envelope protein 1 (HCV E1) antibodies. Also subject of the invention are compositions comprising these antibodies, CDRs or variable regions, and compounds comprising at least one of the CDRs or variable regions of said antibodies. Further subject of the invention are the application of any of said antibodies, CDRs, variable regions or compounds in HCV prophylaxis, therapy, and diagnosis, as well as methods for producing the antibodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to anti-HCV antibodies and more specifically to neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies and their variable and complementarity determining regions (CDR). In particular, the neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies are neutralizing anti-HCV envelope protein 1 (HCV E1) antibodies. Also subject of the invention are compositions comprising these antibodies, CDRs or variable regions, and compounds comprising at least one of the CDRs or variable regions of said antibodies. Further subject of the invention are the application of any of said antibodies, CDRs, variable regions or compounds in HCV prophylaxis, therapy, and diagnosis, as well as methods for producing the antibodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinantly or synthetically produced HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof comprising disulfides between specific cysteine residues. The invention further relates to viral-like particles and compositions comprising said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof as well as to methods using said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof, and to kits comprising said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinantly or synthetically produced HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof comprising disulfides between specific cysteine residues. The invention further relates to viral-like particles and compositions comprising said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof as well as to methods using said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof, and to kits comprising said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof.

Abstract: The current invention relates to vectors and methods for efficient expression of proteins in methylotrophic yeast cells. More particularly said vectors comprise the coding sequence for a lysozyme signal peptide or a functional equivalent thereof joined to a protein. Said lysozyme signal peptide is efficiently removed when the protein comprising said lysozyme signal peptide joined to a protein is expressed in methylotrophic yeast cells, such as Hansenula polymorpha and Pichia pastoris.

Abstract: The current invention relates to vectors and methods for efficient expression of HCV envelope proteins in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said vectors comprise the coding sequence for an avian lysozyme signal peptide or a functional equivalent thereof joined to a HCV envelope protein or a part thereof. Said avian lysozyme signal peptide is efficiently removed when the protein comprising said avian lysozyme signal peptide joined to a HCV envelope protein or a part thereof is expressed in a eukaryotic cell. Suitable eukaryotic cells include yeast cells such as Saccharomyces or Hansenula cells.

Abstract: The current invention relates to HCV envelope proteins or parts thereof which are the product of expression in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said HCV envelope proteins are characterized in that on average up to 80% of their N-glycosylation sites are core-glycosylated. Of these N-glycosylated sites more than 70% are glycosylated with an oligomannose having a structure defined by Man(8 to 10)-GlcNAc(2). Furthermore, the ratio of the oligomannose with structure Man(7)-GlcNAc(2) over the oligomannose with structure Man(8)-GlcNAc(2) is less than or equal to 0.45. Less than 10% of the oligomannoses is terminated with an ?1,3 linked mannose. The HCV envelope proteins of the invention are particularly suited for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. A suitable eukaryotic cell for production of the HCV envelope proteins of the invention is a Hansenula cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapy of HCV infection, and more particularly to combination therapy of HCV infection. The combination therapy comprises combination of a HCV E1 vaccine and an antiviral agent. In one aspect, the antiviral agent may be an interferon.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the finding that the envelope proteins of HCV induce a beneficial immune response in chronically HCV-infected chimpanzees. The immunization can preferentially be carried out using HCV envelope proteins in the form of particles which are produced in a detergent-assisted manner. The envelope proteins when presented as such to chronic HCV carriers are highly immunogenic and stimulate both the cellular and humoral immune response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying recombinant HCV single or specific oligomeric envelope proteins selected from the group consisting of E1 and/or E2 and/or E1/E2, characterized in that upon lysing the transformed host cells to isolate the recombinantly expressed protein a disulphide bond cleavage or reduction step is carried out with a disulphide bond cleavage agent. The present invention also relates to a composition isolated by such a method. The present invention also relates to the diagnostic and therapeutic application of these compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying recombinant HCV single or specific oligomeric envelope proteins selected from the group consisting of E1 and/or E2 and/or E1/E2, characterized in that upon lysing the transformed host cells to isolate the recombinantly expressed protein a disulphide bond cleavage or reduction step is carried out with a disulphide bond cleavage agent. The present invention also relates to a composition isolated by such a method. The present invention also relates to the diagnostic and therapeutic application of these compositions. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of HCV E1 protein and peptides for prognosing and monitoring the clinical effectiveness and/or clinical outcome of HCV treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the general field of recombinant protein expression, purification of recombinant proteins, diagnosis of HCV infection, prophylactic treatment against HCV infection and to the prognosing/monitoring of the clinical efficiency of treatment of an individual with chronic hepatitis, or the prognosing/monitoring of the natural disease. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of yeast, i.e. Hansenula or Saccharomyces glycosylation minus strains, for the efficient expression of HCV envelope proteins that are core-glycosylated, purification methods for these proteins, and the use in various applications, such as the use in diagnosis, prophylaxis or therapy of HCV envelope proteins purified according to the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to peptides, and nucleic acids encoding them, derived from the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The peptides are those which elicit a CTL and/or HTL response in a host. The invention is also directed to compositions and vaccines for prevention and treatment of HCV infection and diagnostic methods for detection of HCV exposure in patients.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinantly or synthetically produced HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof comprising disulfides between specific cysteine residues. The invention further relates to viral-like particles and compositions comprising said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof as well as to methods using said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof, and to kits comprising said HCV E1 envelope proteins or parts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides or polypeptides comprising an HCV NS3 protein or a part thereof or a derivative of said peptide or polypeptide, HCV NS3 protein or part thereof wherein at least one cysteine is irreversibly modified. These modified HCV NS3 proteins have advantageous properties both for diagnostic and therapeutic/prophylactic applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to therapy of HCV infection, and more particularly to combination therapy of HCV infection. The combination therapy comprises combination of a HCV E1 vaccine and an antiviral agent. In one aspect, the antiviral agent may be an interferon.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides or polypeptides comprising an HCV NS5 protein or a part thereof or a derivative of said peptide or polypeptide, HCV NS5 protein or part thereof wherein at least one cysteine is reversibly or irreversibly modified. These modified HCV NS5 proteins have advantageous properties both for diagnostic and therapeutic/prophylactic applications.