In vitro self-assembled HCV core virus-like particles induce a strong antibody immune response in sheep. |
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| Authors: | Nelson Acosta-Rivero Julio C Alvarez-Obregón Alexis Musacchio Viviana Falcón Santiago Due?as-Carrera Jeny Marante Ivón Menéndez Juan Morales |
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| Institution: | Division of Vaccines, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave. 31 e/158 y 190, P.O. Box 61562, C.P. 10 600, Havana City, Cuba. nelson.acosta@cigb.edu.cu |
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| Abstract: | The in vitro self-assembly properties of the entire hepatitis C virus core protein (HCcAg) obtained from Pichia pastoris cells and the induction of specific antibody immune response were studied. HCcAg was purified as a low-molecular-weight species by electroelution under denaturing conditions for confirmation of its self-assembly properties. After renaturalization, electron microscopy showed that HCcAg assembled into spherical particles of 30 nm. HCcAg also showed homogeneity and was specifically recognized by serum from a chronic HCV carrier patient. The data indicated that in vitro assembly of HCcAg, into virus-like particles resembling HCV nucleocapsid particles at a mature stage, is an intrinsic quality of this protein. Finally, HCcAg generated a strong antibody immune response in sheep, suggesting its usefulness for stimulating the host immune response against HCV. |
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| Keywords: | hepatitis C core antigen virus-like particles P pastoris |
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