Abstract: The present invention provides a sensitive and specific test for hepatitis C virus. The test detects the presence of particular core antigens of hepatitis C, which appear earlier after initial infection than antigens or viral genetic materials used in previously-developed assays. The invention test allows detection of hepatitis C infection at an earlier stage of infection with a lower number of false positives than previously-developed tests. The invention also provides a novel core protein antigen and novel antibodies to the core protein antigen.

Abstract: Methods for treating a patient after transplantation of a liver are presented which facilitate acceptance of the donor liver and treat the underlying disease or disorder that led to the transplant. A patient with a chronic viral infection is treated by inducing tolerance to the donor liver and suppressing tolerance of the body to the virus. Similarly, a patient with cancer is treated by inducing immunotolerance of a donor liver and suppressing immunotolerance of the cancer.

Abstract: A method of producing viral antigens in vitro by infecting animal organ tissue rich in mitochondria with a virus, including human hepatitis B virus (HBV), and culturing the infected tissue in vitro is disclosed. A method of producing proteins in vitro by transfecting mitochondria-rich animal tissue with a recombinant HBV-based vector and culturing the transfected tissue in a dynamic tissue culture system is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a cell line from a pluripotent cell by isolating a portion of a feeder tissue from a first animal, maintaining the feeder tissue in contact with culture medium, contacting and incubating a pluripotent cell from a second animal together with the feeder tissue in the culture medium, and recovering a cell line wherein the cell line is derived from a pluripotent cell. This method can be used to prevent pluripotent cells from differentiating or aging in an in vitro setting by using fibroblast-rich feeder tissue slices. This method can also be used to produce differentiated cell lines suitable for use in transplantation.

Abstract: A method of producing viral antigens in vitro by infecting animal organ tissue rich in mitochondria with a virus, including human hepatitis B virus (HBV), and culturing the infected tissue in vitro is disclosed. A method of producing proteins in vitro by transfecting mitochondria-rich animal tissue with a recombinant HBV-based vector and culturing the transfected tissue in a dynamic tissue culture system is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing viral antigens in vitro by infecting animal organ tissue rich in mitochondria with a virus, including human hepatitis B virus (HBV), and culturing the infected tissue in vitro is disclosed. A method of producing proteins in vitro by transfecting mitochondria-rich animal tissue with a recombinant HBV-based vector and culturing the transfected tissue in a dynamic tissue culture system is disclosed.