Method for simultaneously detecting an antigen of, and an antibody against, an infectious microorganism

1. A method for detecting, in vitro, a hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a biological sample, comprising simultaneous detection of when present in the biological sample, at least one HCV antigen and an anti-HCV antibody, the method comprising

a) contacting the biological sample with a HCV capture antibody and a HCV capture antigen attached to a solid phase;

b) incubating the mixture under conditions allowing formation of antigen-antibody complexes;

c) separating the solid phase from the liquid phase;

d) revealing the antigen-antibody complexes formed by contacting the solid phase with, firstly, a labeled detection antibody capable of binding the HCV antigen which has been captured and, secondly, a labeled anti-immunoglobulin or anti-isotype antibody, or a labeled detection antigen, capable of binding the anti-HCV antibody which has been captured;

each of the antigen for capturing and the antigen for detecting anti-HCV antibodies comprising an antigenic fragment of the capsid protein of HCV, in which two epitopes have been destroyed,

the capture and detection antibodies each recognizing one of said epitopes, which are intact, of the capsid antigen which has been captured, and

in which the capture antibody and the detection antibody each recognize an epitope selected from the group of epitopes having the following sequences: 44 LGVR47 (SEQ ID NO: 19), 30IVGGVYL36 (SEQ ID NO: 20), 29QIVGGV34 (SEQ ID NO: 21).

2. A kit which is of use for detecting an infection with a hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a biological sample, comprising:

a capture or detection antigen which comprises an antigenic fragment of a protein of HCV, said fragment comprising at least one destroyed epitope, while at the same time conserving the ability to bind the antibodies directed against HCV-possibly present in the biological sample and being selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 4-18;

a capture or detection antibody directed against said epitope, which is intact, of said protein of HCV.

3. The kit as claimed in claim 2 , in which the capture or detection antibody recognizes an epitope selected from the group of epitopes having the following sequences: 44LGVR47 (SEQ ID NO: 19), 30IVGGVYL36 (SEQ ID NO: 20), 29QIVGGV34 (SEQ ID NO: 21).

4. The kit as claimed in claim 2 , comprising, besides the capture antigen, a means of detecting said anti-HCV antibodies present in the biological sample and forming complexes with said capture antigen.

5. The kit as claimed in claim 2 , in which the capture antibody and the capture antigen are present in a form immobilized on a solid phase.

6. The kit as claimed in claim 5 , comprising:

a) a capture antigen which comprises an antigenic fragment of an HCV protein, said fragment comprising at least two destroyed epitopes, while at the same time conserving the ability to bind the anti-HCV antibodies possibly present in a biological sample;

b) a capture antibody directed against one of said epitopes, which are intact, of said HCV protein; said capture antigen and said capture antibody being immobilized on a solid phase; and

c 1 ) a labeled detection antibody directed against another of said epitopes, which are intact, of said HCV protein; and/or

c 2 ) optionally a labeled detection antigen which is an antigenic fragment of an HCV protein, said fragment comprising at least one destroyed epitope, while at the same time conserving the ability to bind the anti-HCV antibodies possibly present in a biological sample.

7. The kit as claimed in claim 6 , in which the labeled detection antigen is a fragment of the capsid protein of HCV, at least one epitope site of which fragment has been destroyed.

8. The kit as claimed in claim 2 , also comprising at least one detergent of the nonionic type.

9. The kit as claimed in claim 8 , in which said detergent of the nonionic type is octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol.

10. A method for detecting in vitro, an infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a biological sample, comprising simultaneous detection of at least one antigen of said HCV and of an antibody directed against said HCV, present in the biological sample, which method comprises

a) bringing the biological sample into contact with a capture antibody directed against said HCV, and a capture antigen derived from said HCV;

b) incubating the mixture under conditions allowing formation of antigen-antibody complexes;

c) revealing the antigen-antibody complexes formed which optionally uses a labeled detection antibody capable of binding to the antigen of said HCV which has been captured and/or optionally also a labeled detection antigen capable of binding to the antibody directed against said HCV which has been captured;

wherein the capture antigen and/or the labeled detection antigen of said HCV comprises an antigenic fragment of the capsid protein of HCV in which at least one epitope has been destroyed;

wherein the capture and/or detection antibody recognizes said at least one epitope, which is intact, of the antigen which has been captured;

d) the presence of capture antibody/antigen complexes and of antibody/capture antigen complexes indicating an infection with HCV,

in which the capture antigen or the detection antigen is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 4-18.