Hepatitis C virus codon optimized non-structural NS3/4A fusion gene
Aspects of the present invention relate to the discovery of a novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolate. Embodiments include HCV peptides, nucleic acids encoding said HCV peptides, antibodies directed to said peptides, compositions containing said nucleic acids and peptides, as well as methods of making and using the aforementioned compositions including, but not limited to, diagnostics and medicaments for the treatment and prevention of HCV infection.
1. A method of inducing an immune response comprising:
(a) identifying a subject in need of an immune response to hepatitis-C virus (HCV); and
(b) providing said subject a composition that comprises a purified or isolated nucleic acid comprising at least 200 consecutive nucleotides of the sequence of SEQ ID NO. 35 or the complement thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid consists essentially of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid consists of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
13. The method of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
15. The method of claim 7 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
17. The method of claim 2 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
18. The method of claim 6 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
19. The method of claim 7 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
24. The method of claim 16 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
25. The method of claim 17 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
26. The method of claim 18 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
27. The method of claim 19 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
28. A method of increasing the titer of HCV-specific IgG antibodies in a subject in need thereof comprising:
(a) identifying a subject in need of an increase in HCV-specific IgG antibodies; and
(b) providing a composition that comprises a purified or isolated nucleic acid comprising at least 200 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35, or the complement thereof.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
30. The method of claim 28 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
31. The method of claim 28 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
32. The method of claim 28 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
33. The method of claim 28 , wherein said nucleic acid consists essentially of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
34. The method of claim 28 , wherein said nucleic acid consists of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
35. The method of claim 28 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
36. The method of claim 29 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
37. The method of claim 33 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
38. The method of claim 34 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
39. The method of claim 28 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
40. The method of claim 29 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
41. The method of claim 33 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
42. The method of claim 34 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
43. The method of claim 28 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
44. The method of claim 29 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
45. The method of claim 33 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
46. The method of claim 34 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
47. The method of claim 43 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
48. The method of claim 44 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
49. The method of claim 45 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
50. The method of claim 46 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
51. The method of claim 43 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
52. The method of claim 44 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
53. The method of claim 45 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
54. The method of claim 46 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
55. A method of enhancing a T cell response to HCV, comprising:
(a) identifying a subject in need of an enhanced T cell response to HCV; and
(b) providing a composition that comprises a purified or isolated nucleic acid comprising at least 200 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
56. The method of claim 55 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
57. The method of claim 55 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
58. The method of claim 5 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
59. The method of claim 55 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
60. The method of claim 55 , wherein said nucleic acid consists essentially of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
61. The method of claim 55 , wherein said nucleic acid consists of SEQ. ID. NO: 35 or the complement thereof.
62. The method of claim 55 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
63. The method of claim 56 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
64. The method of claim 60 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
65. The method of claim 61 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
66. The method of claim 55 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
67. The method of claim 56 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
68. The method of claim 60 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
69. The method of claim 61 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
70. The method of claim 55 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
71. The method of claim 56 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
72. The method of claim 60 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
73. The method of claim 61 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
74. The method of claim 70 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
75. The method of claim 71 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
76. The method of claim 72 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
77. The method of claim 73 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
78. The method of claim 70 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
79. The method of claim 71 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
80. The method of claim 72 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
81. The method of claim 73 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
82. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring the immune response to HCV.
83. The method of claim 28 , further comprising measuring the amount of HCV-specific IgG.
84. The method of claim 55 , further comprising measuring the T-cell response to HCV.