Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent of parenterally tra
nsmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. The genomic region encoding the virio
n-associated core protein is relatively conserved among HCV strains. T
o generate a DNA vaccine capable of expressing the HCV core protein, t
he genomic region encoding amino acid residues 1 to 191 of the HCV-1 s
train was amplified and cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector. I
ntramuscular inoculation of recombinant plasmid DNA into BALB/c mice (
H-2(d)) generated HCV core-specific antibody responses, lymphoprolifer
ative responses, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. Our results sugg
est that the HCV core polynucleotide warrants further investigation as
a potential vaccine against HCV infection.