摘要
Five highly conserved and immunogenic epitopes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been chosen to form a multi-epitope antigen gene and fused with β-galactosidase gene to express a hybrid GZ-PCX antigen, which could be specifically recognized by human HCV sera. High level of anti-GZ-PCX IgG has been induced when mice or rabbits were immunized with GZ-PCX antigen emulsificated with complete Freund’s adjuvant or mixed with killed attenuated Salmonella typhimurium SL3261. The specific anti-GZ-PCX IgG reached a high liter of 10-6, which remained for several months. Specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effects, delayed type hypersensltivity reaction (DTH) and proliferation of peripheral lymphocytes have been induced by GZ-PCX antigen or synthetic peptides. High level of anti-GZ-PCX slgG has been detected in mice’s intestinal washing fluids, which indicates that the antigen induced mucosal immunity as well as systematic immunity. The studies show that the HCV multi-epitope antigen induces high level of specific immune responses without obvious toxicity, which might be able to provide protectivity to any HCV genotypes and isolates.
Five highly conserved and immunogenic epitopes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been chosen to form a multi-epitope antigen gene and fused with β-galactosidase gene to express a hybrid GZ-PCX antigen, which could be specifically recognized by human HCV sera. High level of anti-GZ-PCX IgG has been induced when mice or rabbits were immunized with GZ-PCX antigen emulsificated with complete Freund’s adjuvant or mixed with killed attenuatedSalmonella typhimurium SL3261. The specific anti-GZ-PCX IgG reached a high titer of 10-6, which remained for several months. Specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effects, delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH) and proliferation of peripheral lymphocytes have been induced by GZ-PCX antigen or synthetic peptides. High level of anti-GZ-PCX slgG has been detected in mice’s intestinal washing fluids, which indicates that the antigen induced mucosal immunity as well as systematic immunity. The studies show that the HCV multi-epitope antigen induces high level of specific immune responses without obvious toxicity, which might be able to provide protectivity to any HCV genotypes and isolates.
