IMMUNE-RESPONSES TO PLASMID DNA ENCODING THE HEPATITIS-C VIRUS CORE PROTEIN

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.