Evaluation of a Native Preparation of HCV Core Protein (2-122) for Potential Applications in Immunization, Diagnosis and mAb Production

Infection with hepatitis c virus (hcv) is a worldwide problem. among hcv proteins, core antigen (ag), besides its importancefor diagnostic application is a prime candidate for component of a vaccine. herein, we report results of studies onproduction of the hydrophilic domain of core ag (2-122) in native conformation by an arabinose induction system in e.coliand the primary characterization of this recombinant protein for applications in diagnosis, immunization and mab production.recombinant core (r-core) was able to detect anti-core antibodies in hcv positive serum samples in a dilution rate of1/3200. it was also capable to elicit a potent anti-hcv humoral immune response in balb/c mice. finally, we establishedtwo stable clones of hybridoma which shown to produce specific and sensitive mabs against the core protein. hcv corewas able to elicit a broad range of antibody specificities depending on the immunogen conformation. therefore, it may bepossible to get new mabs with higher affinities towards native conformation of core ag.