丙型肝炎病毒高变区1中介导感染的关键氨基酸残基鉴定

丙型肝炎病毒( HCV)包膜E2蛋白氨基端的高变区1(HVR1)由27个氨基酸组成,是HCV蛋白中变异频率最高的肽段.HVR1含中和抗体表位,同时对HCV细胞侵入起重要作用,其结构与功能的关系目前尚不清楚.本研究对H77株包膜蛋白基因中的HVR1进行了一系列缺失突变,然后将突变体表达质粒与假病毒包装质粒共转染人胚肾(H...     

中国HCV3b型包膜蛋白编码基因的克隆分析与假病毒制备北大核心CSCD

从中国丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)3b亚型感染者克隆分析包膜蛋白编码基因,并用于HCV 3b亚型假病毒制备。本研究从中国HCV感染血清中筛选克隆到2个3b亚型包膜蛋白编码基因,序列分析后构建表达质粒,以1b(Con1)作为对照,体外转染293T细胞后分析不同包膜蛋白表达水平,并制备了HCV 3b亚型假病毒(HCVpp),比较不同HCVpp感染效率。结果表明:2个3b亚型包膜蛋白编码基因(C27与C30)与国际3b参考株TrKj的进化关系较近。C27与C30核苷酸与氨基酸同源性较高(分别为98.5%与98.2%),包膜蛋白编码区存在10个氨基酸位点差异,且C27包膜蛋白体外表达水平明显高于C30,其中C27可制备出高感染效率的HCV 3b型假病毒,其感染效率明显高于C30与HCV 1型(Con1)制备的HCVpp。本研究分析了2个HCV 3b亚型感染者包膜蛋白编码基因序列及表达特性,并首次获得了高感染效率的HCV 3b亚型假病毒,为HCV研究及疫苗与药物研发提供了有效工具。     

中国HCV3b型包膜蛋白编码基因的克隆分析与假病毒制备

从中国丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)3b亚型感染者克隆分析包膜蛋白编码基因,并用于HCV 3b亚型假病毒制备。本研究从中国HCV感染血清中筛选克隆到2个3b亚型包膜蛋白编码基因,序列分析后构建表达质粒,以1b(Con1)作为对照,体外转染293T细胞后分析不同包膜蛋白表达水平,并制备了HCV 3b亚型假病毒(HCVpp),比较不同HCVpp感染效率。结果表明:2个3b亚型包膜蛋白编码基因(C27与C30)与国际3b参考株TrKj的进化关系较近。C27与C30核苷酸与氨基酸同源性较高(分别为98.5%与98.2%),包膜蛋白编码区存在10个氨基酸位点差异,且C27包膜蛋白体外表达水平明显高于C30,其中C27可制备出高感染效率的HCV 3b型假病毒,其感染效率明显高于C30与HCV 1型(Con1)制备的HCVpp。本研究分析了2个HCV 3b亚型感染者包膜蛋白编码基因序列及表达特性,并首次获得了高感染效率的HCV 3b亚型假病毒,为HCV研究及疫苗与药物研发提供了有效工具。     

苏南地区1b型丙型肝炎病毒包膜区变异进化研究

本研究旨在了解本地区丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis Cvirus,HCV)基因型构成的前提下,分析1b型丙型肝炎病毒包膜2(second envelope glycoprotein E2)区的变异和种系进化,并研究其准种变异与临床肝病活动度的关系.对宜兴市人民医院收集的抗HCV抗体阳性患者166名,RT-PCR方法检测HCVRNA,HCVRNA阳性患者采用型特异性引物分型法确定病毒基因型;选择其中未经干扰素治疗的43例1b型慢性丙型肝炎患者的血清标本,扩增E2区,从中选取肝硬化患者4例,慢性非肝硬化患者6例的E2区PCR产物纯化测序,序列采用CLUSTALW与GENBANK上多株不同型别的HCV序列进行比对分析,结果采用Phylip软件构建遗传进化树;并观察E2区高变区1(HVR-1)的氨基酸(amino acid,aa)残基序列的变异特征;采用单链构象多态性垂直电泳检测43例患者个体内HCV E2区准种的变异情况,比较不同肝病活动度患者准种变异情况.结果表明本地区HCV以1b型为主(84.3%),对E2区基因序列和氨基酸序列变异的分析显示其变异具有一定的规律性,种系进化树提示本地区HCV病毒序列与上海、湖南、日本等地的HCV株有较近的亲缘性.43例患者中ALT高于正常的丙型肝炎患者准种复杂程度明显高于ALT正常者(P＜0.05).故本地区HCV基因变异符合中国东南部的特点,基因变异与临床肝病活动度具有相关性.     

苏南地区1b型丙型肝炎病毒包膜区变异进化研究

本研究旨在了解本地区丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)基因型构成的前提下,分析1b型丙型肝炎病毒包膜2(second envelope glycoprotein E2)区的变异和种系进化,并研究其准种变异与临床肝病活动度的关系。对宜兴市人民医院收集的抗HCV抗体阳性患者166名,RT-PCR方法检测HCVRNA,HCVRNA阳性患者采用型特异性引物分型法确定病毒基因型;选择其中未经干扰素治疗的43例1b型慢性丙型肝炎患者的血清标本,扩增E2区,从中选取肝硬化患者4例,慢性非肝硬化患者6例的E2区PCR产物纯化测序,序列采用CLUSTALW与GENBANK上多株不同型别的HCV序列进行比对分析,结果采用Phylip软件构建遗传进化树;并观察E2区高变区1(HVR-1)的氨基酸(aminoacid,aa)残基序列的变异特征;采用单链构象多态性垂直电泳检测43例患者个体内HCVE2区准种的变异情况,比较不同肝病活动度患者准种变异情况。结果表明本地区HCV以1b型为主(84.3%),对E2区基因序列和氨基酸序列变异的分析显示其变异具有一定的规律性,种系进化树提示本地区HCV病毒序列与上海、湖南、日本等地的HCV株有较近的亲缘性。43例患者中ALT高于正常的丙型肝炎患者准种复杂程度明显高于ALT正常者(P<0.05)。故本地区HCV基因变异符合中国东南部的特点,基因变异与临床肝病活动度具有相关性。     

嵌合中国河北株包膜蛋白基因的HCV细胞培养模型的传代分析

建立稳定的嵌合中国河北株包膜蛋白基因的丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)细胞培养体系,进行传代特性分析。本研究经体外转录获得嵌合中国河北株包膜蛋白基因的丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)全长RNA,脂质体法转染Huh7.5-CD81细胞,连续传代培养,进行Real Time RT-PCR、间接免疫荧光、Western blot、再感染试验与感染滴度检测及序列分析。结果表明:嵌合重组HCV RNA转染Huh7.5-CD81细胞后可产生感染性的病毒颗粒(HCVcc);传代过程中,Western blot可检测细胞内HCV蛋白的表达;IFA检测阳性细胞数逐渐增多,41d升至高峰,达80%~90%;Real Time RT-PCR检测传代细胞上清中HCV RNA拷贝数在104~107拷贝/mL;再感染实验嵌合HCVcc最高感染滴度为104ffu/mL。序列分析显示在传代后期嵌合的HCV包膜基因发生了适应性突变,导致6处氨基酸改变。结论嵌合中国河北株1b亚型包膜蛋白基因的HCV细胞培养体系可以产生具有感染性的嵌合HCV病毒颗粒,传代后感染性增强并且嵌合的HCV包膜基因发生了适应性突变。     

丙型肝炎病毒多表位抗原基因的构建与免疫原性研究

丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)基因易发生变异, 尤其是含中和抗原表位的高变区1(HVR1)变异性最大. 模拟HVR1的B细胞表位具有涵盖多种天然表位的抗原特性, 保守的T细胞表位具有各型间的相对保守性. 为解决HCV高变性造成的疫苗研究障碍, 我们选取HCV E2区HVR1(384～410 aa)模拟B细胞表位9条、C区的保守CTL表位2条(35～44 aa, 132～140 aa)、NS3区保守的CTL表位1条(1073～1081 aa)及NS3区保守的Th表位1条(aa 1251～1259), 各表位之间以插入3个氨基酸为连接臂, 人工合成上述13条表位基因串联的HCV多表位抗原基因(mfc). 将mfc与gst基因融合, 表达了多表位抗原蛋白GST-MFC. 同时, 构建了白介素-2信号肽基因、PADRE表位基因和mfc基因串联的候选HCV DNA疫苗, 即质粒pVAX1.0-st-mfc. 以GST-MFC蛋白免疫家兔和质粒pVAX1.0-st-mfc免疫小鼠, 采用ELISA和Western blot方法, 应用10条具有代表性的HCV HVR1合成肽进行检测, 证明有9条HVR1合成肽能与所有免疫动物血清反应, 交叉反应率(cross reactivity, CR)为90%. 应用HCV抗体阳性的感染者血清与多表位抗原GST-MFC蛋白进行反应, 证明其反应识别率(reactivity frequency, RF)为75%. 上述结果表明, 筛选合成的HCV多表位抗原基因mfc具有HCV中和抗原表位的特征, 可作为HCV疫苗研制的候选基因.     

嵌合中国分离株基因的丙型肝炎病毒（1b／2a）细胞培养模型的建立

目的：建立嵌合中国分离株基因的丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）细胞培养模型。方法：利用3片段融合PCR的方法将中国HCV河北分离株（1b）的全长包膜蛋白基因引入JFH1（2a）株基因骨架,构建包膜蛋白基因区相互置换的嵌合HCV（1b／2a）全长基因组,经线性化后体外转录获得全长RNA,转染Huh7．5．1细胞系,用免疫荧光及蛋白印迹实验检测。结果：该RNA可以产生具有体外感染活性的嵌合HCV,且感染性可在共同培养的细胞间传播。结论：首次在国内建立了嵌合中国HCV分离株基因的HCV细胞培养体系。     

HCV E蛋白基因的变异及变异的意义

目的分析不同来源HCV的不同亚型（不同型别之间的不同亚型）及同一亚型之间E蛋白基因的变异及变异的意义。方法使用GenBank公开发表的不同来源HCV的不同亚型及同一亚型之间全基因序列为材料,用CLustalw2软件分析序列之间的同源性。结果不同亚型之间E蛋白基因变异达到了70．5％（E1蛋白基因）和59．8％（E2蛋白基因）;不同亚型的E2蛋白基因有两个高度变异区,相同的亚型之间只有一个高变区;伺一亚型之间E蛋白基因的变异率为11．8％-16．8％（E1蛋白基因）和18．4～29．9％（E2蛋白基因）。结论根据相同亚型之间E蛋白基因的变异较小的特点,可以利用不同亚型病毒的抗原表位发展多价混合多肽疫苗或多基因混合疫苗,可能会对多种不同亚型病毒的感染起到免疫保护作用。     

丙型肝炎病毒包膜蛋白E2可溶性单链可变区抗体在大肠杆菌中的表达

利用分子生物学技术,构建表达丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）包膜蛋白E2的人源单链可变区抗体（ScFv)的原核表达载体,并在大肠杆菌JM109中表达可溶性的HCV－E2－ScFv。以重组的HCV E2蛋白为包被抗原,利用噬菌体抗体库的表面展示技术,筛选含有HCV－E2－ScFv基因的噬菌体克隆,从噬菌体抗体阳性克隆中提取质粒,经Ncol/NotⅠ酶切鉴定后,该ScFv基因由750bp组成,将菜亚克隆到pCANTAB5E载体中,转化大肠杆菌JM109,在其培养上清中获得了可溶性HCV E2单链可变区抗体的表达。酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）证实表达的HCV－E2－ScFv进行聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（PAGE）,证实表达的HCV－E2－ScFv的分子量为28KD,为应用HCV－E2－ScFv进行肝组织免疫组织化学和细胞内免疫基因治疗研究奠定了基础。     

丙型肝炎病毒高变区基因变异特点初探

对两例ＨＣＶＲＮＡ持续阳性者分三个时间点随访五年,测定了ＨＣＶ的高变区基因序列,每个时间点平均测定２８个克隆,总共测定了１６８个克隆。研究发现ＨＣＶ高变区基因变异有五个明显特点：（１）变异程度大,高变区至少有８９％的核苷酸位点都可能发生变异;（２）变异形式多样,除常见的替代突变外,缺失突变（缺失１、２或３个核苷酸）的克隆数占总克隆数的２２．５％;（３）优势克隆明显,即有若干个克隆高变区的核苷酸和氨基酸序列相同;（４）类似株现象严重;（５）变异幅度大。该研究说明ＨＣＶ高变区基因变异具有高度复杂多样性。     

Within-host dynamics of the hepatitis C virus quasispecies population in HIV-1/HCV coinfected patients

HIV/HCV coinfected individuals under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) represent an interesting model for the investigation of the role played by the immune system in driving the evolution of the HCV quasispecies. We prospectively studied the intra-host evolution of the HCV heterogeneity in 8 coinfected subjects, selected from a cohort of 32 patients initiating HAART: 5 immunological responders (group A) and 3 immunological non-responders (group B), and in two HCV singly infected controls not assuming drugs (group C). For all these subjects at least two serial samples obtained at the first observation (before HAART) and more than 1 year later, underwent clonal sequence analysis of partial E1/E2 sequences, encompassing the whole HVR1. Evolutionary rates, dated phylogenies and population dynamics were co-estimated by using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach, and site specific selection pressures were estimated by maximum likelihood-based methods. The intra-host evolutionary rates of HCV quasispecies was 10 times higher in subjects treated with HAART than in controls without immunodeficiency (1.9 and 2.3 × 10(-3) sub/site/month in group A and B and 0.29 × 10(-3) sub/site/month in group C individuals). The within-host Bayesian Skyline plot analysis showed an exponential growth of the quasispecies populations in immunological responders, coinciding with a peak in CD4 cell counts. On the contrary, quasispecies population remained constant in group B and in group C controls. A significant positive selection pressure was detected in a half of the patients under HAART and in none of the group C controls. Several sites under significant positive selection were described, mainly included in the HVR1. Our data indicate that different forces, in addition to the selection pressure, drive an exceptionally fast evolution of HCV during HAART immune restoration. We hypothesize that an important role is played by the enlargement of the viral replicative space.     

Follow-Up Study of Hypervariable Region Sequences of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Genome in an Infant with Delayed Anti-HCV Antibody Responses

An infant born prematurely and infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) one month after birth was followed for 4.5 years. The patient did not produce detectable anti-HCV antibodies until two years after the onset of hepatitis. Before seroconversion, a single clone of HCV, as determined by quasispecies of the hypervariable region (HVR) of the HCV genome, was almost exclusively found in the serum. After seroconversion, however, another distinct lineage of HCV clones replaced it within half a year. As HCV infection persisted further in the presence of anti-HCV antibodies, many derivatives of both sequence lineages emerged to exhibit the typical quasispecies feature of HVR sequences. Neither seroconversion nor the changes in HVR sequences influenced the serum aminotransferase titers.     

Conservation of the conformation and positive charges of hepatitis C virus E2 envelope glycoprotein hypervariable region 1 points to a role in cell attachment

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease. The HCV polyprotein contains a hypervariable region (HVR1) located at the N terminus of the second envelope glycoprotein E2. The strong variability of this 27-amino-acid region is due to its apparent tolerance of amino acid substitutions together with strong selection pressures exerted by anti-HCV immune responses. No specific function has so far been attributed to HVR1. However, its presence at the surface of the viral particle suggests that it might be involved in viral entry. This would imply that HVR1 is not randomly variable. We sequenced 460 HVR1 clones isolated at various times from six HCV-infected patients receiving alpha interferon therapy (which exerts strong pressure towards quasispecies genetic evolution) and analyzed their amino acid sequences together with those of 1,382 nonredundant HVR1 sequences collected from the EMBL database. We found that (i) despite strong amino acid sequence variability related to strong pressures towards change, the chemicophysical properties and conformation of HVR1 were highly conserved, and (ii) HVR1 is a globally basic stretch, with the basic residues located at specific sequence positions. This conservation of positively charged residues indicates that HVR1 is involved in interactions with negatively charged molecules such as lipids, proteins, or glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). As with many other viruses, possible interaction with GAGs probably plays a role in host cell recognition and attachment.     

Compartmentalization of hepatitis C virus quasispecies in blood mononuclear cells of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemic syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate the quasispecies heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the plasma, cryoprecipitate, and peripheral lymphocytes of chronically infected HCV patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). We studied 360 clones from 10 HCV-positive patients with MC and 8 age-, gender- and HCV genotype-matched subjects with chronic HCV infection but without MC. A partial nucleotide sequence encompassing the E1/E2 region, including hypervariable region 1 (HVR1), was amplified and cloned from plasma, cryoprecipitates, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and the genetic diversity and complexity and synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates were determined. Heterogeneous selection pressure at codon sites was evaluated. Compartmentalization was estimated by phylogenetic and phenetic (Mantel's test) approaches. The patients with MC had 3.3 times lower nonsynonymous substitution rates (1.7 versus 5.7 substitutions/100 sites). Among the subjects with HCV genotype 1, the MC patients had significantly less complexity than the controls, whereas the diversity and complexity were similar in the genotype 2 patients and controls. Site-specific selection analysis confirmed the low frequency of MC patients showing positive selection. There was a significant correlation between positive selection and the infecting HCV genotype. The quasispecies were less heterogeneous in PBMC than in plasma. Significant compartmentalization of HCV quasispecies was observed in the PBMC of four of nine subjects (three with MC) and seven of nine cryoprecipitates. In one subject with MC, we detected a 5-amino-acid insertion at codons 385 to 389 of HVR1. Our results suggest reduced quasispecies heterogeneity in MC patients that is related to a low selection pressure which is probably due to an impaired immune response, the HCV genotype, and/or the duration of the infection. The frequent HCV quasispecies compartmentalization in patients' PBMC suggests a possible pathogenetic significance.     

Differential amplification of hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus by partially mismatched primers

The quasispecies nature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been well documented over its whole genome and the most variable domain is located at the 5' end of the second envelope region, the so-called hypervariable region 1 (HVR1). HVR1 has therefore been extensively used as the target for characterizing HCV quasispecies profiles. In this study, we reported our finding that partially mismatched primers preferentially amplify different HVR1 sequences in a heterogeneous virus population. This finding suggests a possible mechanism of bias during the amplification of HVR1 sequences and may be responsible for some conflicting data regarding evolutionary or clinical implications of HCV quasispecies.     

Acute hepatitis C virus structural gene sequences as predictors of persistent viremia: hypervariable region 1 as a decoy

We hypothesized that hepatitis C virus (HCV) persistence is related to the sequence variability of putative envelope genes. This hypothesis was tested by characterizing quasispecies in specimens collected every six months from a cohort of acutely HCV-infected subjects (mean duration of specimen collection, 72 months after seroconversion). We evaluated 5 individuals who spontaneously cleared viremia and 10 individuals with persistent viremia by cloning 33 1-kb amplicons that spanned E1 and the 5' half of E2, including hypervariable region 1 (HVR1). To assess the quasispecies complexity and to detect variants for sequencing, the first PCR-positive sample was examined by using a previously described method that combines heteroduplex analysis and analysis of single-stranded conformational polymorphisms. The ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) within each sample was evaluated as an indicator of relative selective pressure. Amino acid sequences were analyzed for signature patterns, glycosylation signals, and charge. Quasispecies complexity was higher and E1 dN/dS ratios (selective pressure) were lower in those with persistent viremia; the association with persistence was strengthened by the presence of a combination of both characteristics. In contrast, a trend toward higher HVR1 dN/dS ratios was detected among those with persistent viremia. We did not detect any such association for factors that may affect complexity such as serum HCV RNA concentration. HVR1 had a lower positive charge in subjects with persistent viremia, although no consistent motifs were detected. Our data suggest that HCV persistence is associated with a complex quasispecies and immune response to HVR1.     

New insight into HCV E1/E2 region of genotype 4a

Introduction

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome contains two envelope proteins (E1 and E2) responsible for the virus entry into the cell. There is a substantial lack of sequences covering the full length of E1/E2 region for genotype 4. Our study aims at providing new sequences as well as characterizing the genetic divergence of the E1/E2 region of HCV 4a using our new sequences along with all publicly available datasets.

Methods

The genomic segments covering the whole E1/E2 region were isolated from Egyptian HCV patients and sequenced. The resulting 36 sequences 36 were analyzed using sequence analysis techniques to study variability within and among hosts in the same time point. Furthermore, previously published HCV E1/E2 sequence datasets for genotype 4a were retrieved and categorized according to the geographical location and date of isolation and were used for further analysis of variability among Egyptian over a period of 15 years, also compared with non-Egyptian sequences to figure out region-specific variability.

Results

Phylogenetic analysis of the new sequences has shown variability within the host and among different individuals in the same time point. Analysis of the 36 sequences along with the Egyptian sequences (254 sequences in E1 in the period from 1997 to 2010 and 8 E2 sequences in the period from 2006 to 2010) has shown temporal change over time. Analysis of the new HCV sequences with the non-Egyptian sequences (182 sequences in E1 and 155 sequences in the E2) has shown region specific variability. The molecular clock rate of E1 was estimated to be 5E-3 per site per year for Egyptian and 5.38E-3 for non-Egyptian. The clock rate of E2 was estimated to be 8.48E per site per year for Egyptian and 6.3E-3 for non-Egyptian.

Conclusion

The results of this study support the high rate of evolution of the Egyptian HCV genotype 4a. It has also revealed significant level of genetic variability among sequences from different regions in the world.

     

Evolution of Hepatitis C Virus Quasispecies in Hypervariable Region 1 and the Putative Interferon Sensitivity-Determining Region during Interferon Therapy and Natural Infection

To study hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic mutation during interferon (IFN) therapy, the temporal changes in HCV quasispecies heterogeneity were compared before and after treatment for nine patients infected with HCV genotype 1, including four nonresponders, four responders who relapsed after therapy, and one responder who experienced a breakthrough of viremia during therapy. Nine untreated patients with an average time between specimens of 8.4 years served as controls. Sequences from the second envelope glycoprotein gene hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) and the putative IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) of the nonstructural NS5A gene were analyzed by heteroduplex mobility assays and nucleotide sequencing. A strong positive correlation was found between the percent change in a heteroduplex mobility ratio (HMR) and percent change in nucleotide sequence (r = 0.941, P < 0.001). The rate of fixation of mutations in the HVR1 was significantly higher for IFN-treated patients than for controls (6.97 versus 1.31% change in HMR/year; P = 0.02). Similarly, a higher rate of fixation of mutations was observed in the ISDR for IFN-treated patients than for untreated controls, although the result was not significant (1.45 versus 0.15 amino acid changes/year; P = 0.12). On an individual patient basis, IFN therapy was associated with measurable HVR1 and ISDR mutation in nine of nine (100%) and two of nine (22.2%) patients, respectively. Evolution to IFN-resistant ISDR sequences was observed in only one of nine IFN-treated patients. These data suggest that IFN therapy frequently exerts pressure on the HCV envelope region, while pressure on the ISDR was evident in only a subset of patients. Thus, the selection pressures evoked on HCV genotype 1 quasispecies during IFN therapy appear to differ among different patients.     

Antigenicity and immunogenicity of novel chimeric hepatitis B surface antigen particles with exposed hepatitis C virus epitopes

The small envelope protein of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg-S) can self-assemble into highly organized virus like particles (VLPs) and induce an effective immune response. In this study, a restriction enzyme site was engineered into the cDNA of HBsAg-S at a position corresponding to the exposed site within the hydrophilic a determinant region (amino acid [aa] 127-128) to create a novel HBsAg vaccine vector allowing surface orientation of the inserted sequence. We inserted sequences of various lengths from hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 protein containing immunodominant epitopes and demonstrated secretion of the recombinant HBsAg VLPs from transfected mammalian cells. A number of different recombinant proteins were synthesized, and HBsAg VLPs containing inserts up to 36 aa were secreted with an efficiency similar to that of wild-type HBsAg. The HVR1 region exposed on the particles retained an antigenic structure similar to that recognized immunologically during natural infection. VLPs containing epitopes from either HCV-1a or -1b strains were produced that induced strain-specific antibody responses in immunized mice. Injection of a combination of these VLPs induced antibodies against both HVR1 epitopes that resulted in higher titers than were achieved by vaccination with the individual VLPs, suggesting a synergistic effect. This may lead to the development of recombinant particles which are able to induce a broad anti-HCV immune response against the HCV quasispecies or other quasispecies-like infectious agents.