Hepatitis C virus non-structural NS3/4A fusion gene
Disclosed herein is the discovery of a novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolated from a human patient. Embodiments of the invention 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 100 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NO. 1 or the complement thereof, wherein said nucleic acid comprises a sequence that encodes the NS3 domain or an immunogenic fragment thereof, whereby an immune response specific to a peptide encoded by said nucleic acid is induced.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 200 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises a mutation that inhibits proteolytic cleavage of NS3 and NS4A.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises a mutation that inhibits proteolytic cleavage of NS3 and NS4A.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises a mutation that inhibits proteolytic cleavage of NS3 and NS4A.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises a mutation that inhibits proteolytic cleavage of NS3 and NS4A.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein said mutation that inhibits proteolytic cleavage of NS3 and NS4A is a mutation in the NS3 domain.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
12. The method of claim 3 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
13. The method of claim 4 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
15. The method of claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
16. The method of claim 3 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
17. The method of claim 4 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
19. The method of claim 2 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
20. The method of claim 3 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
21. The method of claim 4 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an 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 20 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said injection device is a needleless 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. The method of claim 20 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
29. The method of claim 21 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
30. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring the mean antibody titer.
31. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring IgG levels.
32. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring IgM levels.
33. 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 said subject a composition that comprises a purified or isolated nucleic acid comprising at least 100 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1 or the complement thereof, wherein said nucleic acid comprises a sequence that encodes the NS3 domain or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
34. The method of claim 33 , further comprising measuring IgG levels.
35. The method of claim 33 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 200 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
36. The method of claim 33 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1 or the complement thereof.
37. The method of claim 33 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1 or the complement thereof.
38. The method of claim 33 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
39. The method of claim 34 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
40. The method of claim 35 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
41. The method of claim 36 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
42. The method of claim 33 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
43. The method of claim 34 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
44. The method of claim 35 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
45. The method of claim 36 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
46. The method of claim 33 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
47. The method of claim 34 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
48. The method of claim 35 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
49. The method of claim 36 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
50. The method of claim 46 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
51. The method of claim 47 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
52. The method of claim 48 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
53. The method of claim 49 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
54. The method of claim 46 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
55. The method of claim 47 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
56. The method of claim 48 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
57. The method of claim 49 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
58. 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 said subject a composition that comprises a purified or isolated nucleic acid comprising at least 100 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1 or the complement thereof; wherein said nucleic acid comprises a sequence that encodes the NS3 domain or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
59. The method of claim 58 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 200 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
60. The method of claim 58 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 500 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
61. The method of claim 58 , wherein said nucleic acid comprises at least 1000 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ. ID. NO: 1.
62. The method of claim 58 , wherein said composition further comprises an adjuvant.
63. The method of claim 59 , 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 58 , wherein said composition further comprises ribavirin.
67. The method of claim 59 , 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 58 , wherein said immunogenic composition is administered via an injection device.
71. The method of claim 59 , 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 71 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
75. The method of claim 72 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
76. The method of claim 73 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
77. The method of claim 74 , wherein said injection device is a needleless injection device.
78. The method of claim 71 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
79. The method of claim 72 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
80. The method of claim 73 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
81. The method of claim 74 , wherein said injection device is an electrical injection device.
82. The method of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid consists essentially of SEQ ID No. 1, or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
83. The method of claim 33 , wherein said nucleic acid consists essentially of SEQ ID No. 1, or an immunogenic fragment thereof.
84. The method of claim 58 , wherein said nucleic acid consists essentially of SEQ ID No. 1, or an immunogenic fragment thereof.