ANALYSIS OF HUMAN IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO POTENTIAL HEPATITIS-C VIRAL EPITOPES

A peptide-based enzyme immunoassay (PBEIA) has been developed using sy nthetic peptides whose sequences were selected from the core, envelope and non-structural regions of the prototype hepatitis C virus (HCV) g enome. Results of PBEIA of sera obtained from several patients with va rious liver disorders were compared to those of commercial enzyme-link ed immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase c hain reaction (RT-PCR). A large number of samples, which were repeated ly negative in commercial ELISA, were positive in PBEIA. There was a g ood correlation between the results of PBEIA and RT-PCR. The developed PBEIA proved to be a sensitive assay that had high specificity and wa s capable of detecting antibodies in various HCV-related liver disorde rs including the acute phase of the infection.