HCV antigen/antibody combination assay

Abstract

An HCV core antigen and NS3/4a antibody combination assay that can detect both HCV antigens and antibodies present in a sample using a single solid matrix, is provided, as well as immunoassay solid supports for use in the assay.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention pertains generally to viral diagnostics. In particular, the invention relates to an antigen/antibody combination assay for accurately diagnosing hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the principal cause of parenteral non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) which is transmitted largely through blood transfusion and sexual contact. The virus is present in 0.4 to 2.0% of blood donors. Chronic hepatitis develops in about 50% of infections and of these, approximately 20% of infected individuals develop liver cirrhosis which sometimes leads to hepatocellular carcinoma. Accordingly, the study and control of the disease is of medical importance.

[0004] HCV was first identified and characterized as a cause of NANBH by Houghten et al. The viral genomic sequence of HCV is known, as are methods for obtaining the sequence. See, e.g., International Publication Nos. WO 89/04669; WO 90/11089; and WO 90/14436. HCV has a 9.5 kb positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome and is a member of the Flaviridae family of viruses. At least six distinct, but related genotypes of HCV, based on phylogenetic analyses, have been identified (Simmonds et al., J. Gen. Virol. (1993) 74:2391-2399). The virus encodes a single polyprotein having more than 3000 amino acid residues (Choo et al., Science (1989) 244:359-362; Choo et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1991) 88:2451-2455; Han et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1991) 88:1711-1715). The polyprotein is processed co- and post-translationally into both structural and non-structural (NS) proteins.

[0005] In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, several proteins are encoded by the HCV genome. The order and nomenclature of the cleavage products of the HCV polyprotein is as follows: NH2-C-E1-E2-p7-NS2-NS3-NS4a-NS4b-NS5a-NS5b-COOH. Initial cleavage of the polyprotein is catalyzed by host proteases which liberate three structural proteins, the N-terminal nucleocapsid protein (termed “core”) and two envelope glycoproteins, “E1” (also known as E) and “E2” (also known as E2/NS1), as well as nonstructural (NS) proteins that contain the viral enzymes. The NS regions are termed NS2, NS3, NS4 and NS5. NS2 is an integral membrane protein with proteolytic activity. NS2, either alone or in combination with NS3, cleaves the NS2-NS3 sissle bond which in turn generates the NS3 N-terminus and releases a large polyprotein that includes both serine protease and RNA helicase activities. The NS3 protease serves to process the remaining polyprotein. Completion of polyprotein maturation is initiated by autocatalytic cleavage at the NS3-NS4a junction, catalyzed by the NS3 serine protease. Subsequent NS3-mediated cleavages of the HCV polyprotein appear to involve recognition of polyprotein cleavage junctions by an NS3 molecule of another polypeptide. In these reactions, NS3 liberates an NS3 cofactor (NS4a), two proteins (NS4b and NS5a), and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5b).

[0006] A number of general and specific polypeptides useful as immunological and diagnostic reagents for HCV, derived from the HCV polyprotein, have been described. See, e.g., Houghton et al., European Publication Nos. 318,216 and 388,232; Choo et al., Science (1989) 244:359-362; Kuo et al., Science (1989) 244:362-364; Houghton et al., Hepatology (1991) 14:381-388; Chien et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89:10011-10015; Chien et al., J. Gastroent. Hepatol. (1993) 8:S33-39; Chien et al., International Publication No. WO 93/00365; Chien, D.Y., International Publication No. WO 94/01778. These publications provide an extensive background on HCV generally, as well as on the manufacture and uses of HCV polypeptide immunological reagents. For brevity, therefore, the disclosure of these publications is incorporated herein by reference.

[0007] Sensitive, specific methods for screening and identifying carriers of HCV and HCV-contaminated blood or blood products would provide an important advance in medicine. Post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) occurs in approximately 10% of transfused patients, and HCV has accounted for up to 90% of these cases. Patient care as well as the prevention and transmission of HCV by blood and blood products or by close personal contact require reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools. Accordingly, several assays have been developed for the serodiagnosis of HCV infection. See, e.g., Choo et al., Science (1989) 244:359-362; Kuo et al., Science (1989) 244:362-364; Choo et al., Br. Med. Bull. (1990) 46:423-441; Ebeling et al., Lancet (1990) 335:982-983; van der Poel et al., Lancet (1990) 335:558-560; van der Poel et al., Lancet (1991) 337:317-319; Chien, D.Y., International Publication No. WO 94/01778; Valenzuela et al., International Publication No. WO 97/44469; and Kashiwakuma et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,904.

[0008] A significant problem encountered with some serum-based assays is that there is a significant gap between infection and detection of the virus, often exceeding 80 days. This assay gap may create great risk for blood transfusion recipients. To overcome this problem, nucleic acid-based tests (NAT) that detect viral RNA directly, and HCV core antigen tests that assay viral antigen instead of antibody response, have been developed. See, e.g., Kashiwakuma et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,904; Beld et al., Transfusion (2000) 40:575-579.

[0009] However, there remains a need for sensitive, accurate diagnostic and prognostic tools in order to provide adequate patient care as well as to prevent transmission of HCV by blood and blood products or by close personal contact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention is based in part, on the finding that HCV seroconversion antibodies are typically anti-core and anti-NS3 (helicase). Accordingly, the invention provides an HCV core antigen and NS3 antibody combination assay that can detect both HCV antigens and antibodies present in a sample using a single solid matrix.

[0011] Accordingly, in one embodiment, the subject invention is directed to an immunoassay solid support comprising at least one HCV anti-core antibody and at least one isolated HCV NS3/4a epitope bound thereto. The antibody and NS3/4a epitope can be any of the herein described molecules. Additionally, the solid support may include any of the multiple epitope fusion antigens described herein, such as the multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the solid support comprises at least two HCV anti-core antibodies bound thereto. Moreover, the anti-core antibody may be a monoclonal antibody. Additionally, the NS3/4a epitope may be a conformational epitope, such as a conformational NS3/4a epitope comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D.

[0013] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to an immunoassay solid support comprising at least two HCV anti-core monoclonal antibodies and at least one HCV NS3/4a conformational epitope comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, bound thereto.

[0014] In still a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of detecting HCV infection in a biological sample. The method comprises: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support as described above; (b) combining a biological sample with the solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the at least one anti-core antibody and the NS3/4a epitope, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein the first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein the labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least one anti-core antibody bound to the solid support; (ii) an antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample reactive with the NS3/4a epitope; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the antigen of (ii); and (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample. The NS3/4a epitope may be a conformational epitope, such as a conformational epitope having the NS3/4a sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of detecting HCV infection in a biological sample. The method comprises: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support with at least two HCV anti-core antibodies bound thereto, as described above; (b) combining a biological sample with the solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the at least two anti-core antibodies and the NS3/4a epitope, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein the first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein the labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the anti-core antibodies bound to the solid support; (ii) an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the hSOD amino acid sequence; and (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample. The NS3/4a epitope may be a conformational epitope, such as a conformational epitope having the NS3/4a sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D.

[0016] In any of the above embodiments, the anti-core antibody may be directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, such as against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence, and/or the detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody may be directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, such as amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence. Moreover, the antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample may be from the NS3 region, such as an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein and can be fused with a human superoxide dismutase (hSOD) amino acid sequence. In this embodiment, the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the hSOD amino acid sequence.

[0017] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of detecting HCV infection in a biological sample. The method comprises: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support including two HCV anti-core monoclonal antibodies and a conformational epitope comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D; (b) combining a biological sample with the solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the at least two anti-core antibodies and the NS3/4a conformational epitope, respectively; adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein the first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein the labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least two anti-core antibodies bound to the solid support; (ii) an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequence; detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the at least two anti-core antibodies are directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, such as against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein, and the detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, such as against amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

[0019] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of detecting HCV infection in a biological sample. The method comprises: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support which includes a multiple epitope fusion antigen; (b) combining a biological sample with the solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the at least one anti-core antibody, the NS3/4a epitope, and the multiple epitope fusion antigen; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein the first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein the labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least one anti-core antibody bound to the solid support; (ii) first and second antigens that react with an HCV antibody from the biological sample reactive with the NS3/4a epitope and the multiple epitope fusion antigen, respectively; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the antigens of (ii); (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

[0020] The anti-core antibody may be directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen and said first detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody may be directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, as described above. Moreover, the first antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample may comprise an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein, and may be fused with an hSOD amino acid sequence. In this context, the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the hSOD amino acid sequence. Additionally, the second antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample may comprise an epitope from the c22 region of the HCV polyprotein, such as an epitope comprising amino acids Lys10 to Ser99 of the HCV polyprotein, with a deletion of Arg47 and a substitution of Leu for Trp at position 44, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence. The epitope may be fused with an hSOD amino acid sequence. If so, the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the hSOD amino acid sequence. The multiple epitope fusion antigen may comprise the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F.

[0021] In yet a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of detecting HCV infection in a biological sample, said method comprising: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support which comprises two HCV anti-core monoclonal antibodies, an HCV NS3/4a conformational epitope comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, and a multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F, bound thereto; (b) combining a biological sample with the solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the at least two anti-core antibodies, the NS3/4a conformational epitope, and the multiple epitope fusion antigen, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein the first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein the labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least two anti-core antibodies bound to the solid support; (ii) an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence and an epitope from the c22 region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein said second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequences; (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

[0022] In this embodiment, the at least two anti-core antibodies may be directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, such as against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein, and the detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen, such as against amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence. Moreover, the epitope from the c22 region may comprise amino acids Lys10 to Ser99 of the HCV polyprotein, with a deletion of Arg47 and a substitution of Leu for Trp at position 44, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

[0023] In other embodiments, the invention is directed to immunodiagnostic test kits comprising the immunoassay solid support described above, and instructions for conducting the immunodiagnostic test.

[0024] In still further embodiments, the invention is directed to methods of producing an immunoassay solid support, comprising: (a) providing a solid support; and (b) binding at least one HCV anti-core antibody, such as one or two or more, and at least one isolated HCV NS3/4a epitope thereto, and optionally, a multiple epitope fusion antigen thereto. The anti-core antibodies, NS3/4a epitopes and multiple epitope fusion antigens are as described above.

[0025] In additional embodiments, the invention is directed to a multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F, or an amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity, such as 90% or more sequence identity, thereto which reacts specifically with anti-HCV antibodies present in a biological sample from an HCV-infected individual. In certain embodiments, the multiple epitope fusion antigen consists of the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 5A-5F.

[0026] In further embodiments, the invention is directed to a polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence for the multiple epitope fusion antigen above, a recombinant vectors comprising the polynucleotides, host cells transformed with the recombinant vectors, and methods of producing a recombinant multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising: (a) providing a population of host cells as above; and (b) culturing the population of cells under conditions whereby the multiple epitope fusion antigen encoded by the coding sequence present in the recombinant vector is expressed.

[0027] These and other aspects of the present invention will become evident upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings. In addition, various references are set forth herein which describe in more detail certain procedures or compositions, and are therefore incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the HCV genome, depicting the various regions of the polyprotein from which the present assay reagents (proteins and antibodies) are derived.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a representative antibody/antigen combination assay under the invention.

[0030] FIG. 3 depicts the amino acid sequence of a representative NS3/4a conformational antigen for use in the present assays. The bolded alanine at position 182 is substituted for the native serine normally present at this position.

[0031] FIGS. 4A through 4D depict the DNA and corresponding amino acid sequence of another representative NS3/4a conformational antigen for use in the present assays. The amino acids at positions 403 and 404 of FIGS. 4A through 4D represent substitutions of Pro for Thr, and Ile for Ser, of the native amino acid sequence of HCV-1.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the construction of pd.HCV1a.ns3ns4aPI.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of MEFA 12.

[0034] FIGS. 7A-7F depict the DNA and corresponding amino acid sequence of MEFA 12.

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of a representative immunoassay under the invention, using MEFA 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional methods of chemistry, biochemistry, recombinant DNA techniques and immunology, within the skill of the art. Such techniques are explained fully in the literature. See, e.g., Fundamental Virology, 2nd Edition, vol. I & II (B. N. Fields and D. M. Knipe, eds.); Handbook of Experimental Immunology, Vols. I-IV (D. M. Weir and C. C. Blackwell eds., Blackwell Scientific Publications); T. E. Creighton, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Properties (W.H. Freeman and Company, 1993); A. L. Lehninger, Biochemistry (Worth Publishers, Inc., current addition); Sambrook, et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd Edition, 1989); Methods In Enzymology (S. Colowick and N. Kaplan eds., Academic Press, Inc.).

[0037] All publications, patents and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0038] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an antigen” includes a mixture of two or more antigens, and the like.

[0039] The following amino acid abbreviations are used throughout the text:

Alanine: Ala (A)       Arginine: Arg (R)
Asparagine: Asn (N)    Aspartic acid: Asp (D)
Cysteine: Cys (C)      Glutamine: Gln (Q)
Glutamic acid: Glu (E) Glycine: Gly (G)
Histidine: His (H)     Isoleucine: Ile (I)
Leucine: Leu (L)       Lysine: Lys (K)
Methionine: Met (M)    Phenylalanine: Phe (F)
Proline: Pro (P)       Serine: Ser (S)
Threonine: Thr (T)     Tryptophan: Trp (W)
Tyrosine: Tyr (Y)      Valine: Val (V)

[0040] I. Definitions

[0041] In describing the present invention, the following terms will be employed, and are intended to be defined as indicated below.

[0042] The terms “polypeptide” and “protein” refer to a polymer of amino acid residues and are not limited to a minimum length of the product. Thus, peptides, oligopeptides, dimers, multimers, and the like, are included within the definition. Both full-length proteins and fragments thereof are encompassed by the definition. The terms also include postexpression modifications of the polypeptide, for example, glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation and the like. Furthermore, for purposes of the present invention, a “polypeptide” refers to a protein which includes modifications, such as deletions, additions and substitutions (generally conservative in nature), to the native sequence, so long as the protein maintains the desired activity. These modifications may be deliberate, as through site-directed mutagenesis, or may be accidental, such as through mutations of hosts which produce the proteins or errors due to PCR amplification.

[0043] An HCV polypeptide is a polypeptide, as defined above, derived from the HCV polyprotein. The polypeptide need not be physically derived from HCV, but may be synthetically or recombinantly produced. Moreover, the polypeptide may be derived from any of the various HCV strains, such as from strains 1, 2, 3 or 4 of HCV. A number of conserved and variable regions are known between these strains and, in general, the amino acid sequences of epitopes derived from these regions will have a high degree of sequence homology, e.g., amino acid sequence homology of more than 30%, preferably more than 40%, when the two sequences are aligned. Thus, for example, the term “NS3/4a” polypeptide refers to native NS3/4a from any of the various HCV strains, as well as NS3/4a analogs, muteins and immunogenic fragments, as defined further below. The complete genotypes of many of these strains are known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,087 and GenBank Accession Nos. AJ238800 and AJ238799.

[0044] The terms “analog” and “mutein” refer to biologically active derivatives of the reference molecule, or fragments of such derivatives, that retain desired activity, such as immunoreactivity in the assays described herein. In general, the term “analog” refers to compounds having a native polypeptide sequence and structure with one or more amino acid additions, substitutions (generally conservative in nature) and/or deletions, relative to the native molecule, so long as the modifications do not destroy immunogenic activity. The term “mutein” refers to peptides having one or more peptide mimics (“peptoids”), such as those described in International Publication No. WO 91/04282. Preferably, the analog or mutein has at least the same immunoactivity as the native molecule. Methods for making polypeptide analogs and muteins are known in the art and are described further below.

[0045] Particularly preferred analogs include substitutions that are conservative in nature, i.e., those substitutions that take place within a family of amino acids that are related in their side chains. Specifically, amino acids are generally divided into four families: (1) acidic —aspartate and glutamate; (2) basic—lysine, arginine, histidine; (3) non-polar—alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine, tryptophan; and (4) uncharged polar—glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine threonine, tyrosine. Phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine are sometimes classified as aromatic amino acids. For example, it is reasonably predictable that an isolated replacement of leucine with isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, a threonine with a serine, or a similar conservative replacement of an amino acid with a structurally related amino acid, will not have a major effect on the biological activity. For example, the polypeptide of interest may include up to about 5-10 conservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions, or even up to about 15-25 conservative or non-conservative amino acid substitutions, or any integer between 5-25, so long as the desired function of the molecule remains intact. One of skill in the art may readily determine regions of the molecule of interest that can tolerate change by reference to Hopp/Woods and Kyte-Doolittle plots, well known in the art.

[0046] By “fragment” is intended a polypeptide consisting of only a part of the intact full-length polypeptide sequence and structure. The fragment can include a C-terminal deletion and/or an N-terminal deletion of the native polypeptide. An “immunogenic fragment” of a particular HCV protein will generally include at least about 5-10 contiguous amino acid residues of the full-length molecule, preferably at least about 15-25 contiguous amino acid residues of the full-length molecule, and most preferably at least about 20-50 or more contiguous amino acid residues of the full-length molecule, that define an epitope, or any integer between 5 amino acids and the full-length sequence, provided that the fragment in question retains immunoreactivity in the assays described herein. For example, preferred immunogenic fragments, include but are not limited to fragments of HCV core that comprise, e.g., amino acids 10-45, 10-53, 67-88, and 120-130 of the polyprotein, epitope 5-1-1 (in the NS3 region of the viral genome) as well as defined epitopes derived from the El, E2, c33c (NS3), c100 (NS4), NS3/4a and NS5 regions of the HCV polyprotein, as well as any of the other various epitopes identified from the HCV polyprotein. See, e.g., Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89:10011-10015; Chien et al., J. Gastroent. Hepatol. (1993) 8:S33-39; Chien et al., International Publication No. WO 93/00365; Chien, D. Y., International Publication No. WO 94/01778; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,150,087 and 6,121,020, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0047] The term “epitope” as used herein refers to a sequence of at least about 3 to 5, preferably about 5 to 10 or 15, and not more than about 1,000 amino acids (or any integer therebetween), which define a sequence that by itself or as part of a larger sequence, binds to an antibody generated in response to such sequence. There is no critical upper limit to the length of the fragment, which may comprise nearly the full-length of the protein sequence, or even a fusion protein comprising two or more epitopes from the HCV polyprotein. An epitope for use in the subject invention is not limited to a polypeptide having the exact sequence of the portion of the parent protein from which it is derived. Indeed, viral genomes are in a state of constant flux and contain several variable domains which exhibit relatively high degrees of variability between isolates. Thus the term “epitope” encompasses sequences identical to the native sequence, as well as modifications to the native sequence, such as deletions, additions and substitutions (generally conservative in nature).

[0048] Regions of a given polypeptide that include an epitope can be identified using any number of epitope mapping techniques, well known in the art. See, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols in Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 66 (Glenn E. Morris, Ed., 1996) Humana Press, Totowa, N.J. For example, linear epitopes may be determined by e.g., concurrently synthesizing large numbers of peptides on solid supports, the peptides corresponding to portions of the protein molecule, and reacting the peptides with antibodies while the peptides are still attached to the supports. Such techniques are known in the art and described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,871; Geysen et al. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998-4002; Geysen et al. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:178-182; Geysen et al. (1986) Molec. Immunol. 23:709-715, all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Using such techniques, a number of epitopes of HCV have been identified. See, e.g., Chien et al., Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (1994) pp. 320-324, and further below. Similarly, conformational epitopes are readily identified by determining spatial conformation of amino acids such as by, e.g., x-ray crystallography and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance. See, e.g., Epitope Mapping Protocols, supra. Antigenic regions of proteins can also be identified using standard antigenicity and hydropathy plots, such as those calculated using, e.g., the Omiga version 1.0 software program available from the Oxford Molecular Group. This computer program employs the Hopp/Woods method, Hopp et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA (1981) 78:3824-3828 for determining antigenicity profiles, and the Kyte-Doolittle technique, Kyte et al., J. Mol. Biol. (1982) 157:105-132 for hydropathy plots.

[0049] As used herein, the term “conformational epitope” refers to a portion of a full-length protein, or an analog or mutein thereof, having structural features native to the amino acid sequence encoding the epitope within the full-length natural protein. Native structural features include, but are not limited to, glycosylation and three dimensional structure. The length of the epitope defining sequence can be subject to wide variations as these epitopes are believed to be formed by the three-dimensional shape of the antigen (e.g., folding). Thus, amino acids defining the epitope can be relatively few in number, but widely dispersed along the length of the molecule (or even on different molecules in the case of dimers, etc.), being brought into correct epitope conformation via folding. The portions of the antigen between the residues defining the epitope may not be critical to the conformational structure of the epitope. For example, deletion or substitution of these intervening sequences may not affect the conformational epitope provided sequences critical to epitope conformation are maintained (e.g., cysteines involved in disulfide bonding, glycosylation sites, etc.).

[0050] Conformational epitopes present in the NS3/4a region are readily identified using methods discussed above. Moreover, the presence or absence of a conformational epitope in a given polypeptide can be readily determined through screening the antigen of interest with an antibody (polyclonal serum or monoclonal to the conformational epitope) and comparing its reactivity to that of a denatured version of the antigen which retains <only linear epitopes (if any). In such screening using polyclonal antibodies, it may be advantageous to absorb the polyclonal serum first with the denatured antigen and see if it retains antibodies to the antigen of interest. Additionally, in the case of NS3/4a, a molecule which preserves the native conformation will also have protease and, optionally, helicase enzymatic activities. Such activities can be detected using enzymatic assays, as described further below.

[0051] Preferably, a conformational epitope is produced recombinantly and is expressed in a cell from which it is extractable under conditions which preserve its desired structural features, e.g. without denaturation of the epitope. Such cells include bacteria, yeast, insect, and mammalian cells. Expression and isolation of recombinant conformational epitopes from the HCV polyprotein are described in e.g., International Publication Nos. WO 96/04301, WO 94/01778, WO 95/33053, WO 92/08734, which applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Alternatively, it is possible to express the antigens and further renature the protein after recovery. It is also understood that chemical synthesis may also provide conformational antigen mimitopes that cross-react with the “native” antigen's conformational epitope.

[0052] The term “multiple epitope fusion antigen” or “MEFA” as used herein intends a polypeptide in which multiple HCV antigens are part of a single, continuous chain of amino acids, which chain does not occur in nature. The HCV antigens may be connected directly to each other by peptide bonds or may be separated by intervening amino acid sequences. The fusion antigens may also contain sequences exogenous to the HCV polyprotein. Moreover, the HCV sequences present may be from multiple genotypes and/or isolates of HCV. Examples of particular MEFAs for use in the present immunoassays are detailed in, e.g., International Publication No. WO 97/44469, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and are described further below.

[0053] An “antibody” intends a molecule that, through chemical or physical means, specifically binds to a polypeptide of interest. Thus, an HCV core antibody is a molecule that specifically binds to the HCV core protein. The term “antibody” as used herein includes antibodies obtained from both polyclonal and monoclonal preparations, as well as, the following: hybrid (chimeric) antibody molecules (see, for example, Winter et al. (1991) Nature 349:293-299; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567); F(ab′)2 and F(ab) fragments; Fv molecules (non-covalent heterodimers, see, for example, Inbar et al. (1972) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 69:2659-2662; and Ehrlich et al. (1980) Biochem 19:4091-4096); single-chain Fv molecules (sFv) (see, for example, Huston et al. (1988) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:5879-5883); dimeric and trimeric antibody fragment constructs; minibodies (see, e.g., Pack et al. (1992) Biochem 31:1579-1584; Cumber et al. (1992) J Immunology 149B:120-126); humanized antibody molecules (see, for example, Riechmann et al. (1988) Nature 332:323-327; Verhoeyan et al. (1988) Science 239:1534-1536; and U.K. Patent Publication No. GB 2,276,169, published Sep. 21, 1994); and, any functional fragments obtained from such molecules, wherein such fragments retain immunological binding properties of the parent antibody molecule.

[0054] As used herein, the term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody composition having a homogeneous antibody population. The term is not limited regarding the species or source of the antibody, nor is it intended to be limited by the manner in which it is made. Thus, the term encompasses antibodies obtained from murine hybridomas, as well as human monoclonal antibodies obtained using human rather than murine hybridomas. See, e.g., Cote, et al. Monclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, 1985, p. 77.

[0055] A “recombinant” protein is a protein which retains the desired activity and which has been prepared by recombinant DNA techniques as described herein. In general, the gene of interest is cloned and then expressed in transformed organisms, as described further below. The host organism expresses the foreign gene to produce the protein under expression conditions.

[0056] By “isolated” is meant, when referring to a polypeptide, that the indicated molecule is separate and discrete from the whole organism with which the molecule is found in nature or is present in the substantial absence of other biological macro-molecules of the same type. The term “isolated” with respect to a polynucleotide is a nucleic acid molecule devoid, in whole or part, of sequences normally associated with it in nature; or a sequence, as it exists in nature, but having heterologous sequences in association therewith; or a molecule disassociated from the chromosome.

[0057] By “equivalent antigenic determinant” is meant an antigenic determinant from different sub-species or strains of HCV, such as from strains 1, 2, or 3 of HCV. More specifically, epitopes are known, such as 5-1-1, and such epitopes vary between the strains 1, 2, and 3. Thus, the epitope 5-1-1 from the three different strains are equivalent antigenic determinants and thus are “copies” even though their sequences are not identical. In general the amino acid sequences of equivalent antigenic determinants will have a high degree of sequence homology, e.g., amino acid sequence homology of more than 30%, preferably more than 40%, when the two sequences are aligned.

[0058] “Homology” refers to the percent similarity between two polynucleotide or two polypeptide moieties. Two DNA, or two polypeptide sequences are “substantially homologous” to each other when the sequences exhibit at least about 50% , preferably at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%-85%, preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95%-98% sequence similarity over a defined length of the molecules. As used herein, substantially homologous also refers to sequences showing complete identity to the specified DNA or polypeptide sequence.

[0059] In general, “identity” refers to an exact nucleotide-to-nucleotide or amino acid-to-amino acid correspondence of two polynucleotides or polypeptide sequences, respectively. Percent identity can be determined by a direct comparison of the sequence information between two molecules by aligning the sequences, counting the exact number of matches between the two aligned sequences, dividing by the length of the shorter sequence, and multiplying the result by 100.

[0060] Readily available computer programs can be used to aid in the analysis of similarity and identity, such as ALIGN, Dayhoff, M. O. in Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure M. O. Dayhoff ed., 5 Suppl. 3:353-358, National biomedical Research Foundation, Washington, DC, which adapts the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman Advances in Appl. Math. 2:482-489, 1981 for peptide analysis. Programs for determining nucleotide sequence similarity and identity are available in the Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 (available from Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wis.) for example, the BESTFIT, FASTA and GAP programs, which also rely on the Smith and Waterman algorithm. These programs are readily utilized with the default parameters recommended by the manufacturer and described in the Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package referred to above. For example, percent similarity of a particular nucleotide sequence to a reference sequence can be determined using the homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman with a default scoring table and a gap penalty of six nucleotide positions.

[0061] Another method of establishing percent similarity in the context of the present invention is to use the MPSRCH package of programs copyrighted by the University of Edinburgh, developed by John F. Collins and Shane S. Sturrok, and distributed by IntelliGenetics, Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.). From this suite of packages the Smith-Waterman algorithm can be employed where default parameters are used for the scoring table (for example, gap open penalty of 12, gap extension penalty of one, and a gap of six). From the data generated the “Match” value reflects “sequence similarity.” Other suitable programs for calculating the percent identity or similarity between sequences are generally known in the art, for example, another alignment program is BLAST, used with default parameters. For example, BLASTN and BLASTP can be used using the following default parameters: genetic code=standard; filter=none; strand=both; cutoff=60; expect=10; Matrix=BLOSUM62; Descriptions=50 sequences; sort by=HIGH SCORE; Databases=non-redundant, GenBank+EMBL+DDBJ+PDB+GenBank CDS translations+Swiss protein+Spupdate+PIR. Details of these programs can be found at the following internet address: http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/cgi-bin/BLAST.

[0062] Alternatively, homology can be determined by hybridization of polynucleotides under conditions which form stable duplexes between homologous regions, followed by digestion with single-stranded-specific nuclease(s), and size determination of the digested fragments. DNA sequences that are substantially homologous can be identified in a Southern hybridization experiment under, for example, stringent conditions, as defined for that particular system. Defining appropriate hybridization conditions is within the skill of the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al., supra; DNA Cloning, supra; Nucleic Acid Hybridization, supra.

[0063] A “coding sequence” or a sequence which “encodes” a selected polypeptide, is a nucleic acid molecule which is transcribed (in the case of DNA) and translated (in the case of mRNA) into a polypeptide in vitro or in vivo when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5′ (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3′ (carboxy) terminus. A transcription termination sequence may be located 3′ to the coding sequence.

[0064] “Operably linked” refers to an arrangement of elements wherein the components so described are configured so as to perform their desired function. Thus, a given promoter operably linked to a coding sequence is capable of effecting the expression of the coding sequence when the proper transcription factors, etc., are present. The promoter need not be contiguous with the coding sequence, so long as it functions to direct the expression thereof. Thus, for example, intervening untranslated yet transcribed sequences can be present between the promoter sequence and the coding sequence, as can transcribed introns, and the promoter sequence can still be considered “operably linked” to the coding sequence.

[0065] A “control element” refers to a polynucleotide sequence which aids in the expression of a coding sequence to which it is linked. The term includes promoters, transcription termination sequences, upstream regulatory domains, polyadenylation signals, untranslated regions, including 5′-UTRs and 3′-UTRs and when appropriate, leader sequences and enhancers, which collectively provide for the transcription and translation of a coding sequence in a host cell.

[0066] A “promoter” as used herein is a DNA regulatory region capable of binding RNA polymerase in a host cell and initiating transcription of a downstream (3′ direction) coding sequence operably linked thereto. For purposes of the present invention, a promoter sequence includes the minimum number of bases or elements necessary to initiate transcription of a gene of interest at levels detectable above background. Within the promoter sequence is a transcription initiation site, as well as protein binding domains (consensus sequences) responsible for the binding of RNA polymerase. Eucaryotic promoters will often, but not always, contain “TATA” boxes and “CAT” boxes.

[0067] A control sequence “directs the transcription” of a coding sequence in a cell when RNA polymerase will bind the promoter sequence and transcribe the coding sequence into mRNA, which is then translated into the polypeptide encoded by the coding sequence.

[0068] “Expression cassette” or “expression construct” refers to an assembly which is capable of directing the expression of the sequence(s) or gene(s) of interest. The expression cassette includes control elements, as described above, such as a promoter which is operably linked to (so as to direct transcription of) the sequence(s) or gene(s) of interest, and often includes a polyadenylation sequence as well. Within certain embodiments of the invention, the expression cassette described herein may be contained within a plasmid construct. In addition to the components of the expression cassette, the plasmid construct may also include, one or more selectable markers, a signal which allows the plasmid construct to exist as single-stranded DNA (e.g., a M13 origin of replication), at least one multiple cloning site, and a “mammalian” origin of replication (e.g., a SV40 or adenovirus origin of replication).

[0069] “Transformation,” as used herein, refers to the insertion of an exogenous polynucleotide into a host cell, irrespective of the method used for insertion: for example, transformation by direct uptake, transfection, infection, and the like. For particular methods of transfection, see further below. The exogenous polynucleotide may be maintained as a nonintegrated vector, for example, an episome, or alternatively, may be integrated into the host genome.

[0070] A “host cell” is a cell which has been transformed, or is capable of transformation, by an exogenous DNA sequence.

[0071] “Common solid support” intends a single solid matrix to which the HCV polypeptides used in the subject immunoassays are bound covalently or by noncovalent means such as hydrophobic adsorption.

[0072] “Immunologically reactive” means that the antigen in question will react specifically with anti-HCV antibodies present in a biological sample from an HCV-infected individual.

[0073] “Immune complex” intends the combination formed when an antibody binds to an epitope on an antigen.

[0074] As used herein, a “biological sample” refers to a sample of tissue or fluid isolated from a subject, including but not limited to, for example, blood, plasma, serum, fecal matter, urine, bone marrow, bile, spinal fluid, lymph fluid, samples of the skin, external secretions of the skin, respiratory, intestinal, and genitourinary tracts, tears, saliva, milk, blood cells, organs, biopsies and also samples of in vitro cell culture constituents including but not limited to conditioned media resulting from the growth of cells and tissues in culture medium, e.g., recombinant cells, and cell components.

[0075] As used herein, the terms “label” and “detectable label” refer to a molecule capable of detection, including, but not limited to, radioactive isotopes, fluorescers, chemiluminescers, chromophores, enzymes, enzyme substrates, enzyme cofactors, enzyme inhibitors, chromophores, dyes, metal ions, metal sols, ligands (e.g., biotin, strepavidin or haptens) and the like. The term “fluorescer refers” to a substance or a portion thereof which is capable of exhibiting fluorescence in the detectable range. Particular examples of labels which may be used under the invention include, but are not limited to, horse radish peroxidase (HRP), fluorescein, FITC, rhodamine, dansyl, umbelliferone, dimethyl acridinium ester (DMAE), Texas red, luminol, NADPH and α-β-galactosidase.

[0076] II. Modes of Carrying out the Invention

[0077] Before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular formulations or process parameters as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0078] Although a number of compositions and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

[0079] As noted above, the present invention is based on the discovery of novel diagnostic methods for accurately detecting early HCV infection. The methods rely on the identification and use of highly immunogenic HCV antibodies and antigens which are present during the early stages of HCV seroconversion, thereby increasing detection accuracy and reducing the incidence of false results. The methods can be conveniently practiced in a single assay format.

[0080] More particularly, the assay is conducted on a solid support to which has been bound one or more HCV anti-core antibodies (directed against either the same or different HCV core epitopes) and an epitope derived from the NS3/4a region of the HCV polyprotein. Examples of particular anti-core antibodies useful in the present invention include, but are not limited to, antibody molecules such as monoclonal antibodies, directed against epitopes in the core region found between amino acids 10-53; amino acids 10-45; amino acids 67-88; amino acids 120-130, or antibodies directed against any of the core epitopes identified in, e.g., Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671; Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89:10011-10015; Chien et al., J. Gastroent. Hepatol. (1993) 8:S33-39; Chien et al., International Publication No. WO 93/00365; Chien, D.Y., International Publication No. WO 94/01778; and commonly owned, allowed U.S. patent application Serial Nos. 08/403,590 and 08/444,818, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0081] The NS3/4a region of the HCV polyprotein has been described and the amino acid sequence and overall structure of the protein are disclosed in, e.g., Yao et al., Structure (November 1999) 7:1353-1363; Sali et al., Biochem. (1998) 37:3392-3401; and Bartenschlager, R., J. Viral Hepat. (1999) 6:165-181. See, also, Dasmahapatra et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,752, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The subject immunoassays utilize at least one conformational epitope derived from the NS3/4a region that exists in the conformation as found in the naturally occurring HCV particle or its infective product, as evidenced by the preservation of protease and, optionally, helicase enzymatic activities normally displayed by the NS3/4a gene product and/or immunoreactivity of the antigen with antibodies in a biological sample from an HCV-infected subject, and a loss of the epitope's immunoreactivity upon denaturation of the antigen. For example, the conformational epitope can be disrupted by heating, changing the pH to extremely acid or basic, or by adding known organic denaturants, such as dithiothreitol (DTT) or an appropriate detergent. See, e.g., Protein Purification Methods, a practical approach (E. L. V. Harris and S. Angal eds., IRL Press) and the denatured product compared to the product which is not treated as above.

[0082] Protease and helicase activity may be determined using standard enzyme assays well known in the art. For example, protease activity may be determined using assays well known in the art. See, e.g., Takeshita et al., Anal. Biochem. (1997) 247:242-246; Kakiuchi et al., J. Biochem. (1997) 122:749-755; Sali et al., Biochemistry (1998) 37:3392-3401; Cho et al., J. Virol. Meth. (1998) 72:109-115; Cerretani et al., Anal. Biochem. (1999) 266:192-197; Zhang et al., Anal. Biochem. (1999) 270:268-275; Kakiuchi et al., J. Virol. Meth. (1999) 80:77-84; Fowler et al., J. Biomol Screen. (2000) 5:153-158; and Kim et al., Anal. Biochem. (2000) 284:42-48. A particularly convenient assay for testing protease activity is set forth in the examples below.

[0083] Similarly, helicase activity assays are well known in the art and helicase activity of an NS3/4a epitope may be determined using, for example, an ELISA assay, as described in, e.g., Hsu et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1998) 253:594-599; a scintillation proximity assay system, as described in Kyono et al., Anal. Biochem. (1998) 257:120-126; high throughput screening assays as described in, e.g., Hicham et al., Antiviral Res. (2000) 46:181-193 and Kwong et al., Methods Mol. Med. (2000) 24:97-116; as well as by other assay methods known in the art. See, e.g., Khu et al., J. Virol. (2001) 75:205-214; Utama et al., Virology (2000) 273:316-324; Paolini et al., J. Gen. Virol. (2000) 81:1335-1345; Preugschat et al., Biochemistry (2000) 39:5174-5183; Preugschat et al., Methods Mol. Med. (1998) 19:353-364; and Hesson et al., Biochemistry (2000) 39:2619-2625.

[0084] The length of the antigen is sufficient to maintain an immunoreactive conformational epitope. Often, the polypeptide containing the antigen used will be almost full-length, however, the polypeptide may also be truncated to, for example, increase solubility or to improve secretion. Generally, the conformational epitope found in NS3/4a is expressed as a recombinant polypeptide in a cell and this polypeptide provides the epitope in a desired form, as described in detail below.

[0085] Representative amino acid sequences for NS3/4a polypeptides are shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A through 4D. The bolded alanine occurring at position 182 of FIG. 3 is substituted for the native serine found at this position in order to prevent autocatalyisis of the molecule that might otherwise occur. The amino acid sequence shown at positions 2-686 of FIGS. 4A through 4D corresponds to amino acid positions 1027-1711 of HCV-1. An initiator codon (ATG) coding for Met, is shown as position 1. Additionally, the Thr normally occurring at position 1428 of HCV-1 (amino acid position 403 of FIG. 4) is mutated to Pro, and the Ser normally occurring at position 1429 of HCV-1 (amino acid position 404 of FIG. 4) is mutated to Ile. However, either the native sequence, with or without an N-terminal Met, the depicted analog, with or without the N-terminal Met, or other analogs and fragments can be used in the subject assays, so long as the epitope is produced using a method that retains or reinstates its native conformation such that protease activity, and optionally, helicase activity is retained. Dasmahapatra et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,752 and Zhang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,276, both describe analogs of NS3/4a.

[0086] The NS3 protease of NS3/4a is found at about positions 1027-1207, numbered relative to HCV-1, positions 2-182 of FIG. 4. The structure of the NS3 protease and active site are known. See, e.g., De Francesco et al., Antivir. Ther. (1998) 3:99-109; Koch et al., Biochemistry (2001) 40:631-640. Changes to the native sequence that will normally be tolerated will be those outside of the active site of the molecule. Particularly, it is desirable to maintain amino acids 1- or 2-155 of FIG. 4, with little or only conservative substitutions. Amino acids occurring beyond 155 will tolerate greater changes. Additionally, if fragments of the NS3/4a sequence found in FIG. 4 are used, these fragments will generally include at least amino acids 1- or 2-155, preferably amino acids 1- or 2-175, and most preferably amino acids 1- or 2-182, with or without the N-terminal Met. The helicase domain is found at about positions 1193-1657 of HCV-1 (positions 207-632 of FIG. 4). Thus, if helicase activity is desired, this portion of the molecule will be maintained with little or only conservative changes. One of skill in the art can readily determine other regions that will tolerate change based on the known structure of NS3/4a.

[0087] The solid support may also comprise other antigens. For example, multiple epitope fusion antigens (termed “MEFAs”), as described in International Publication No. WO 97/44469, may be bound to the solid support for use in the subject assays. Such MEFAs include multiple epitopes derived from two or more of the various viral regions shown in FIG. 1 and Table 1. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1 and Table 1, An HCV polyprotein, upon cleavage, produces at least ten distinct products, in the order of NH2-Core-E1-E2-p7-NS2-NS3-NS4a-NS4b-NS5a-NS5b-COOH. The core polypeptide occurs at positions 1-191, numbered relative to HCV-1 (see, Choo et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2451-2455, for the HCV-1 genome). This polypeptide is further processed to produce an HCV polypeptide with approximately amino acids 1-173. The envelope polypeptides, E1 and E2, occur at about positions 192-383 and 384-746, respectively. The P7 domain is found at about positions 747-809. NS2 is an integral membrane protein with proteolytic activity and is found at about positions 810-1026 of the polyprotein. NS2, either alone or in combination with NS3 (found at about positions 1027-1657), cleaves the NS2-NS3 sissle bond which in turn generates the NS3 N-terminus and releases a large polyprotein that includes both serine protease and RNA helicase activities. The NS3 protease, found at about positions 1027-1207, serves to process the remaining polyprotein. The helicase activity is found at about positions 1193-1657. Completion of polyprotein maturation is initiated by autocatalytic cleavage at the NS3-NS4a junction, catalyzed by the NS3 serine protease. Subsequent NS3-mediated cleavages of the HCV polyprotein appear to involve recognition of polyprotein cleavage junctions by an NS3 molecule of another polypeptide. In these reactions, NS3 liberates an NS3 cofactor (NS4a, found about positions 1658-1711), two proteins (NS4b found at about positions 1712-1972, and NS5a found at about positions 1973-2420), and an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5b found at about positions 2421-3011).

TABLE 1
Domain   Approximate Boundaries*
C (core) 1-191
E1       192-383
E2       384-746
P7       747-809
NS2      810-1026
NS3      1027-1657
NS4a     1658-1711
NS4b     1712-1972
NS5a     1973-2420
NS5b     2421-3011
*Numbered relative to HCV-1. See, Choo et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 2451-2455.

[0088] The multiple HCV antigens are part of a single, continuous chain of amino acids, which chain does not occur in nature. Thus, the linear order of the epitopes is different than their linear order in the genome in which they occur. The linear order of the sequences of the MEFAs for use herein is preferably arranged for optimum antigenicity. Preferably, the epitopes are from more than one HCV strain, thus providing the added ability to detect multiple strains of HCV in a single assay. Thus, the MEFAs for use herein may comprise various immunogenic regions derived from the polyprotein described above. Moreover, a protein resulting from a frameshift in the core region of the polyprotein, such as described in International Publication No. WO 99/63941, may be used in the MEFAs. If desired, at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 or more of one or more epitopes derived from the HCV polyprotein may occur in the fusion protein.

[0089] For example, epitopes derived from, e.g., the hypervariable region of E2, such as a region spanning amino acids 384-410 or 390-410, can be included in the MEFA antigen. A particularly effective E2 epitope is one which includes a consensus sequence derived from this region, such as the consensus sequence Gly-Ser-Ala-Ala-Arg-Thr-Thr-Ser-Gly-Phe-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ala-Pro-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Asn, which represents a consensus sequence for amino acids 390-410 of the HCV type 1 genome. A representative E2 epitope present in a MEFA of the invention can comprise a hybrid epitope spanning amino acids 390-444. Such a hybrid E2 epitope can include a consensus sequence representing amino acids 390-410 fused to the native amino acid sequence for amino acids 411-444 of HCV E2.

[0090] Additionally, the antigens may be derived from various HCV strains. Multiple viral strains of HCV are known, and epitopes derived from any of these strains can be used in a fusion protein. It is well known that any given species of organism varies from one individual organism to another and further that a given organism such as a virus can have a number of different strains. For example, as explained above, HCV includes at least 6 genotypes. Each of these genotypes includes equivalent antigenic determinants. More specifically, each strain includes a number of antigenic determinants that are present on all strains of the virus but are slightly different from one viral strain to another. For example, HCV includes the antigenic determinant known as 5-1-1 (See, FIG. 1). This particular antigenic determinant appears in three different forms on the three different viral strains of HCV. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment of the invention all three forms of 5-1-1 appear on the multiple epitope fusion antigen used in the subject immunoassays. Similarly, equivalent antigenic determinants from the core region of different HCV strains may also be present. In general, equivalent antigenic determinants have a high degree of homology in terms of amino acid sequence which degree of homology is generally 30% or more, preferably 40% or more, when aligned. The multiple copy epitope of the present invention can also include multiple copies which are exact copies of the same epitope.

[0091] Representative MEFAs for use with the present assays are described in International Publication No. WO 97/44469. Additional representative MEFAs for use herein include those termed MEFA 12, MEFA 13 and MEFA 13.1. It is to be understood that these MEFAs are merely representative and other epitopes derived from the HCV genome will also find use with the present assays and may be incorporated into these or other MEFAs.

[0092] The DNA sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of MEFA 12 is shown in FIGS. 7A through 7F. The general structural formula for MEFA 12 is shown in FIG. 6 and is as follows: hSOD-E1(type 1)-E2 HVR consensus(type la)-E2 HVR consensus(types 1 and 2)-c33c short(type 1)-5-1-1(type 1)-5-1-1(type 3)-5-1-1(type 2)-c100(type 1)-NS5(type 1)-NS5(type 1)-core(types 1+2)-core(types 1+2). This multiple copy epitope includes the following amino acid sequence, numbered relative to HCV-1 (the numbering of the amino acids set forth below follows the numbering designation provided in Choo, et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2451-2455, in which amino acid #1 is the first methionine encoded by the coding sequence of the core region): amino acids 1-69 of superoxide dismutase (SOD, used to enhance recombinant expression of the protein); amino acids 303 to 320 of the polyprotein from the E1 region; amino acids 390 to 410 of the polyprotein, representing a consensus sequence for the hypervariable region of HCV-1 a E2; amino acids 384 to 414 of the polyprotein from region E2, representing a consensus sequence for the E2 hypervariable regions of HCV-1 and HCV-2; amino acids 1211-1457 of the HCV-1 polyprotein which define the helicase; three copies of an epitope from 5-1-1, amino acids 1689-1735, one from HCV-1, one from HCV-3 and one from HCV-2, which copies are equivalent antigenic determinants from the three different viral strains of HCV; HCV polypeptide C100 of HCV-1, amino acids 1901-1936 of the polyprotein; two exact copies of an epitope from the NS5 region of HCV-1, each with amino acids 2278 to 2313 of the HCV polyprotein; and two copies of three epitopes from the core region, two from HCV-1 and one from HCV-2, which copies are equivalent antigenic determinants represented by amino acids 9 to 53 and 64-88 of HCV-1 and 67-84 of HCV-2.

[0093] Table 2 shows the amino acid positions of the various epitopes in MEFA 12 with reference to FIGS. 7A through 7F herein. The numbering in the tables is relative to HCV-1. See, Choo et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:2451-2455. MEFAs 13 and 13.1 also share the general formula specified above for MEFA 12, with modifications as indicated in Tables 3 and 4, respectively.

TABLE 2
MEFA 12
mefa aa#	5′ end site	epitope	hcv aa#	strain
1-69*	Nco1	hSOD
72-89	MluI	E1	303-320	1
92-112	Hind111	E2 HVR1a	390-410	1
		consensus
113-143		E2 HVR1 + 2	384-414	1, 2
		consensus
146-392	SpeI	C33C short	1211-1457	1
395-441	SphI	5-1-1	1689-1735	1
444-490	NruI	5-1-1	1689-1735	3
493-539	ClaI	5-1-1	1689-1735	2
542-577	AvaI	C100	1901-1936	1
580-615	XbaI	NS5	2278-2313	1
618-653	BglII	NS5	2278-2313	1
654-741	NcoI	core	9-53, R47L	1
		epitopes	64-88	1
			67-84	2
742-829	BalI	core	9-53, R47L	1
		epitopes	64-88	1
			67-84	2
*The SOD protein is truncated so that so that the detection conjugate, an HRP-labeled anti-SOD antibody does not bind the MEFA. The core epitope is mutated to prevent the antibodies to HCV core, used in detection, from binding to the MEFA.

[0094]

TABLE 3
MEFA 13
mefa aa#	5′ end site	epitope	hcv aa#	strain
1-156	Nco1	mutated
		hSOD (aa 70-72, ALA)
161-178	MluI	E1	303-320	1
181-201	Hind111	E2 HVR1a	390-410	1
		consensus
202-232		E2 HVR1 + 2	384-414	1, 2
		consensus
235-451		C33C short	1211-1457	1
454-500	HindIII	5-1-1 PImut*	1689-1735	1
503-549	NruI	5-1-1 PImut*	1689-1735	3
552-598	ClaI	5-1-1 PImut*	1689-1735	2
601-636	AvaI	C100	1901-1936	1
639-674	XbaI	NS5	2278-2313	1
677-712	BglII	NS5	2278-2313	1
713-800		core	9-53, R47L	1
		epitopes	64-88	1
			67-84	2
801-888		core	9-53, R47L	1
		epitopes	64-88	1
			67-84	2
*The 5-1-1 epitopes are modified by eliminating possible cleavage sites (CS or CA) targeted by the NS3/4a recombinant protein. Instead of CS or CA, the sequence has been changed to PI. Additionally, the SOD protein is mutated so that the detection conjugate, an HRP-labeled anti-SOD antibody does not bind the MEFA. The core epitope is mutated to prevent the antibodies to HCV core, used in detection, from binding to the MEFA.

[0095]

TABLE 4
MEFA 13.1
mefa aa#	5′ end site	epitope	hcv aa#	strain
1-86	NcoI	mutated
		hSOD (aa 70-72, ALA)
89-106	MluI	E1	303-320	1
109-129	HindIII	E2 HVR1a	390-410	1
		consensus
130-160		E2 HVR1 + 2	384-414	1, 2
		consensus
163-379		C33C short	1211-1457	1
382-428	HindIII	5-1-1 PImut*	1689-1735	1
431-477	NruI	5-1-1 PImut*	1689-1735	3
480-526	ClaI	5-1-1 PImut*	1689-1735	2
529-564	AvaI	C100	1901-1936	1
567-602	XbaI	NS5	2278-2313	1
605-640	BglII	NS5	2278-2313	1
641-728		core	9-53, R47L	1
		epitopes	64-88	1
			67-84	2
729-816		core	9-53, R47L	1
		epitopes	64-88	1
			67-84	2
*The 5-1-1 epitopes are modified by eliminating possible cleavage sites (CS or CA) targeted by the NS3/4a recombinant protein. Instead of CS or CA, the sequence has been changed to PI. Additionally, the SOD protein is mutated so that the detection conjugate, an HRP-labeled anti-SOD antibody does not bind the MEFA. The core epitope is mutated to prevent the antibodies to HCV core, used in detection, from binding to the MEFA.

[0096] In one assay format, the sample is combined with the solid support, as described further below. If the sample is infected with HCV, core antigens, as well as HCV antibodies to those epitopes present on the solid support, will bind to the solid support components. A detectably labeled anti-core antibody is then added. The labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different epitope than the anti-core antibody that is bound to the solid support. This anti-core antibody binds the core antigen captured by the anti-core antibodies on the solid support.

[0097] An antigen that reacts with the captured HCV antibody from the biological sample, which captured sample HCV antibody is reactive with the NS3/4a epitope, is also added. This antigen is preferably an epitope derived from the NS3 region of the HCV polyprotein. This antigen binds the captured HCV antibody from the sample. A number of antigens including such epitopes are known, including, but not limited to antigens derived from the c33c and c100 regions, as well as fusion proteins comprising an NS3 epitope, such as c25. These and other NS3 epitopes are useful in the present assays and are known in the art and described in, e.g., Houghton et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671; Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1992) 89:10011-10015; Chien et al., J. Gastroent. Hepatol. (1993) 8:S33-39; Chien et al., International Publication No. WO 93/00365; Chien, D. Y., International Publication No. WO 94/01778; and commonly owned, allowed U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/403,590 and 08/444,818, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0098] A second labeled antibody, directed against the antigen described above, is added. This antibody can be directed against any epitope included in the antigen. For example, the antibody can be directed against the NS3 region present in the antigen. Alternatively, if the antigen above is expressed as a fusion protein, the second labeled antibody can be directed against the fusion partner. Additional antigens and antibodies can be added to the assay, particularly if the solid support includes a MEFA. These assay formats are explained further below.

[0099] A representative assay under the invention is depicted in FIG. 2. As shown in the figure, the solid support includes two anti-core monoclonal antibodies, termed c11-3 and c11-7. These antibodies are directed against an epitope found in the N-terminal region of the core protein at amino acids 10-53, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence. The solid support also includes an epitope to NS3/4a. The biological sample is added to the solid support. HCV core antigen, as well as antibodies directed against the NS3/4a epitope, both present in the sample, will bind the capture reagents on the solid support.

[0100] Horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled anti-core monoclonal antibody c1 1-14, directed against a C-terminal region of the core found at amino acid positions 120-130, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence, is then added. A fusion protein, comprising a sequence from human SOD (hSOD) and an epitope from the c33c region is added, as is a second HRP-labeled antibody, directed against the SOD portion of the fusion protein. The SOD-c33c fusion will bind to the anti-NS3 antibody and the anti-SOD antibody will, in turn, bind the SOD-c33c fusion protein. Detection of the label indicates the presence of HCV infection.

[0101] Another representative assay under the invention is depicted in FIG. 8. The antibody assay configuration is an antigen-antibody-antigen sandwich capture assay using both NS3/4a and MEFA 12. The solid support includes the two anti-core monoclonal antibodies described above, an epitope to NS3/4a, as well as a representative MEFA, MEFA 12, which includes a truncated version of human SOD. As with the assay above, the biological sample is added to the solid support. HCV core antigen, as well as antibodies directed against the NS3/4a epitope and epitopes of the MEFA, present in the sample, will bind the capture reagents on the solid support. Two antigens, one reactive with sample antibodies that bind NS3/4a (as described above) and one reactive with sample antibodies that bind MEFA 12, are added. In FIG. 8, the antigen reactive with the MEFA 12/sample antibody complex, is a fusion between an SOD molecule and c22ks A47-L44W. The c22ks antigen is from the core region and includes amino acids Lys10 to Ser99 of the polyprotein, as well as a deletion of Arg47 normally present and a substitution of Leu for Trp at position 44. The antibody detection conjugate is the second HRP-labeled monoclonal anti-SOD antibody, described above.

[0102] The above-described antigen/antibody combination assays are particularly advantageous as both the HCV core antigen and antibodies to NS3/4a and/or core may be detected by the same support in the same assay. Moreover, as described above, additional HCV epitopes, such as SOD-fused to c100, 5-1-1, NS5 antigens, as well as a protein resulting from a frameshift in the core region of the polyprotein, such as described in International Publication No. WO 99/63941, may be used in the combination cocktail to cover other non-structural epitopes of HCV.

[0103] In order to further an understanding of the invention, a more detailed discussion is provided below regarding production of antibodies for use in the subject immunoassays; production of polypeptides for use in the immunoassays; and methods of conducting the immunoassays.

[0104] Production of Antibodies for use in the HCV Immunoassays As explained above, the assay utilizes various antibodies which are bound to a solid support (e.g., one or more anti-core antibodies), and that detect antigen/antibody complexes formed when HCV infection is present in the sample. These antibodies may be polyclonal or monoclonal antibody preparations, monospecific antisera, human antibodies, or may be hybrid or chimeric antibodies, such as humanized antibodies, altered antibodies, F(ab′)2 fragments, F(ab) fragments, Fv fragments, single-domain antibodies, dimeric or trimeric antibody fragment constructs, minibodies, or functional fragments thereof which bind to the antigen in question.

[0105] Antibodies are produced using techniques well known to those of skill in the art and disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,011,308; 4,722,890; 4,016,043; 3,876,504; 3,770,380; and 4,372,745. For example, polyclonal antibodies are generated by immunizing a suitable animal, such as a mouse, rat, rabbit, sheep or goat, with an antigen of interest. In order to enhance immunogenicity, the antigen can be linked to a carrier prior to immunization. Such carriers are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Immunization is generally performed by mixing or emulsifying the antigen in saline, preferably in an adjuvant such as Freund's complete adjuvant, and injecting the mixture or emulsion parenterally (generally subcutaneously or intramuscularly). The animal is generally boosted 2-6 weeks later with one or more injections of the antigen in saline, preferably using Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Antibodies may also be generated by in vitro immunization, using methods known in the art. Polyclonal antiserum is then obtained from the immunized animal. See, e.g., Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671, for a description of the production of anti-HCV polyclonal antibodies.

[0106] Monoclonal antibodies are generally prepared using the method of Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature 256:495-497, or a modification thereof. Typically, a mouse or rat is immunized as described above. However, rather than bleeding the animal to extract serum, the spleen (and optionally several large lymph nodes) is removed and dissociated into single cells. If desired, the spleen cells may be screened (after removal of nonspecifically adherent cells) by applying a cell suspension to a plate or well coated with the antigen. B-cells, expressing membrane-bound immunoglobulin specific for the antigen, will bind to the plate, and are not rinsed away with the rest of the suspension. Resulting B-cells, or all dissociated spleen cells, are then induced to fuse with myeloma cells to form hybridomas, and are cultured in a selective medium (e.g., hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine medium, “HAT”). The resulting hybridomas are plated by limiting dilution, and are assayed for the production of antibodies which bind specifically to the immunizing antigen (and which do not bind to unrelated antigens). The selected monoclonal antibody-secreting hybridomas are then cultured either in vitro (e.g., in tissue culture bottles or hollow fiber reactors), or in vivo (e.g., as ascites in mice).

[0107] The production of various anti-HCV monoclonal antibodies has been described in, e.g., Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671; Chien et al., International Publication No. WO 93/00365; commonly owned, allowed U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/403,590 and 08/444,818; and Kashiwakuma et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,904, incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0108] As explained above, antibody fragments which retain the ability to recognize the antigen of interest, will also find use in the subject immunoassays. A number of antibody fragments are known in the art which comprise antigen-binding sites capable of exhibiting immunological binding properties of an intact antibody molecule. For example, functional antibody fragments can be produced by cleaving a constant region, not responsible for antigen binding, from the antibody molecule, using e.g., pepsin, to produce F(ab′)2 fragments. These fragments will contain two antigen binding sites, but lack a portion of the constant region from each of the heavy chains. Similarly, if desired, Fab fragments, comprising a single antigen binding site, can be produced, e.g., by digestion of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with papain. Functional fragments, including only the variable regions of the heavy and light chains, can also be produced, using standard techniques such as recombinant production or preferential proteolytic cleavage of immunoglobulin molecules. These fragments are known as Fv. See, e.g., Inbar et al. (1972) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 69:2659-2662; Hochman et al. (1976) Biochem 15:2706-2710; and Ehrlich et al. (1980) Biochem 19:4091-4096.

[0109] A single-chain Fv (“sFv” or “scFv”) polypeptide is a covalently linked VH-VL heterodimer which is expressed from a gene fusion including VH- and VL-encoding genes linked by a peptide-encoding linker. Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883. A number of methods have been described to discern and develop chemical structures (linkers) for converting the naturally aggregated, but chemically separated, light and heavy polypeptide chains from an antibody V region into an sFv molecule which will fold into a three dimensional structure substantially similar to the structure of an antigen-binding site. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,513, 5,132,405 and 4,946,778. The sFv molecules may be produced using methods described in the art. See, e.g., Huston et al. (1988) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,513, 5,132,405 and 4,946,778. Design criteria include determining the appropriate length to span the distance between the C-terminus of one chain and the N-terminus of the other, wherein the linker is generally formed from small hydrophilic amino acid residues that do not tend to coil or form secondary structures. Such methods have been described in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,091,513, 5,132,405 and 4,946,778. Suitable linkers generally comprise polypeptide chains of alternating sets of glycine and serine residues, and may include glutamic acid and lysine residues inserted to enhance solubility.

[0110] “Mini-antibodies” or “minibodies” will also find use with the present invention. Minibodies are sFv polypeptide chains which include oligomerization domains at their C-termini, separated from the sFv by a hinge region. Pack et al. (1992) Biochem 31:1579-1584. The oligomerization domain comprises self-associating a-helices, e.g., leucine zippers, that can be further stabilized by additional disulfide bonds. The oligomerization domain is designed to be compatible with vectorial folding across a membrane, a process thought to facilitate in vivo folding of the polypeptide into a functional binding protein. Generally, minibodies are produced using recombinant methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Pack et al. (1992) Biochem 31:1579-1584; Cumber et al. (1992) J. Immunology 149B: 120-126.

[0111] Production of Antigens for use in the HCV Immunoassays As explained above, the molecules of the present invention are generally produced recombinantly. Thus, polynucleotides encoding HCV antigens for use with the present invention can be made using standard techniques of molecular biology. For example, polynucleotide sequences coding for the above-described molecules can be obtained using recombinant methods, such as by screening cDNA and genomic libraries from cells expressing the gene, or by deriving the gene from a vector known to include the same. Furthermore, the desired gene can be isolated directly from viral nucleic acid molecules, using techniques described in the art, such as in Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671. The gene of interest can also be produced synthetically, rather than cloned. The molecules can be designed with appropriate codons for the particular sequence. The complete sequence is then assembled from overlapping oligonucleotides prepared by standard methods and assembled into a complete coding sequence. See, e.g., Edge (1981) Nature 292:756; Nambair et al. (1984) Science 223:1299; and Jay et al. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259:6311.

[0112] Thus, particular nucleotide sequences can be obtained from vectors harboring the desired sequences or synthesized completely or in part using various oligonucleotide synthesis techniques known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques where appropriate. See, e.g., Sambrook, supra. In particular, one method of obtaining nucleotide sequences encoding the desired sequences is by annealing complementary sets of overlapping synthetic oligonucleotides produced in a conventional, automated polynucleotide synthesizer, followed by ligation with an appropriate DNA ligase and amplification of the ligated nucleotide sequence via PVR. See, e.g., Jayaraman et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:4084-4088. Additionally, oligonucleotide directed synthesis (Jones et al. (1986) Nature 54:75-82), oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis of pre-existing nucleotide regions (Riechmann et al. (1988) Nature 332:323-327 and Verhoeyen et al. (1988) Science 239:1534-1536), and enzymatic filling-in of gapped oligonucleotides using T4 DNA polymerase (Queen et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:10029-10033) can be used under the invention to provide molecules having altered or enhanced antigen-binding capabilities, and/or reduced immunogenicity.

[0113] Once coding sequences have been prepared or isolated, such sequences can be cloned into any suitable vector or replicon. Numerous cloning vectors are known to those of skill in the art, and the selection of an appropriate cloning vector is a matter of choice. Suitable vectors include, but are not limited to, plasmids, phages, transposons, cosmids, chromosomes or viruses which are capable of replication when associated with the proper control elements.

[0114] The coding sequence is then placed under the control of suitable control elements, depending on the system to be used for expression. Thus, the coding sequence can be placed under the control of a promoter, ribosome binding site (for bacterial expression) and, optionally, an operator, so that the DNA sequence of interest is transcribed into RNA by a suitable transformant. The coding sequence may or may not contain a signal peptide or leader sequence which can later be removed by the host in post-translational processing. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,431,739; 4,425,437; 4,338,397.

[0115] In addition to control sequences, it may be desirable to add regulatory sequences which allow for regulation of the expression of the sequences relative to the growth of the host cell. Regulatory sequences are known to those of skill in the art, and examples include those which cause the expression of a gene to be turned on or off in response to a chemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regulatory compound. Other types of regulatory elements may also be present in the vector. For example, enhancer elements may be used herein to increase expression levels of the constructs. Examples include the SV40 early gene enhancer (Dijkema et al. (1985) EMBO J. 4:761), the enhancer/promoter derived from the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the Rous Sarcoma Virus (Gorman et al. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79:6777) and elements derived from human CMV (Boshart et al. (1985) Cell 41:521), such as elements included in the CMV intron A sequence (U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,688). The expression cassette may further include an origin of replication for autonomous replication in a suitable host cell, one or more selectable markers, one or more restriction sites, a potential for high copy number and a strong promoter.

[0116] An expression vector is constructed so that the particular coding sequence is located in the vector with the appropriate regulatory sequences, the positioning and orientation of the coding sequence with respect to the control sequences being such that the coding sequence is transcribed under the “control” of the control sequences (i.e., RNA polymerase which binds to the DNA molecule at the control sequences transcribes the coding sequence). Modification of the sequences encoding the molecule of interest may be desirable to achieve this end. For example, in some cases it may be necessary to modify the sequence so that it can be attached to the control sequences in the appropriate orientation; i.e., to maintain the reading frame. The control sequences and other regulatory sequences may be ligated to the coding sequence prior to insertion into a vector. Alternatively, the coding sequence can be cloned directly into an expression vector which already contains the control sequences and an appropriate restriction site.

[0117] As explained above, it may also be desirable to produce mutants or analogs of the antigen of interest. This is particularly true with NS3/4a. Methods for doing so are described in, e.g., Dasmahapatra et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,752 and Zhang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,276. Mutants or analogs of this and other HCV proteins for use in the subject assays may be prepared by the deletion of a portion of the sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, by insertion of a sequence, and/or by substitution of one or more nucleotides within the sequence. Techniques for modifying nucleotide sequences, such as site-directed mutagenesis, and the like, are well known to those skilled in the art. See, e.g., Sambrook et al., supra; Kunkel, T. A. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1985) 82:448; Geisselsoder et al. (1987) BioTechniques 5:786; Zoller and Smith (1983) Methods Enzymol. 100:468; Dalbie-McFarland et al. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 79:6409.

[0118] The molecules can be expressed in a wide variety of systems, including insect, mammalian, bacterial, viral and yeast expression systems, all well known in the art.

[0119] For example, insect cell expression systems, such as baculovirus systems, are known to those of skill in the art and described in, e.g., Summers and Smith, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 1555 (1987). Materials and methods for baculovirus/insect cell expression systems are commercially available in kit form from, inter alia, Invitrogen, San Diego Calif. (“MaxBac” kit). Similarly, bacterial and mammalian cell expression systems are well known in the art and described in, e.g., Sambrook et al., supra. Yeast expression systems are also known in the art and described in, e.g., Yeast Genetic Engineering (Barr et al., eds., 1989) Butterworths, London.

[0120] A number of appropriate host cells for use with the above systems are also known. For example, mammalian cell lines are known in the art and include immortalized cell lines available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), such as, but not limited to, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, HeLa cells, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, monkey kidney cells (COS), human embryonic kidney cells, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (e.g., Hep G2), Madin-Darby bovine kidney (“MDBK”) cells, as well as others. Similarly, bacterial hosts such as E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus spp., will find use with the present expression constructs. Yeast hosts useful in the present invention include inter alia, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Candida maltosa, Hansenula polymorpha, Kluyveromyces fragilis, Kluyveromyces lactis, Pichia guillerimondii, Pichia pastoris, Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Yarrowia lipolytica. Insect cells for use with baculovirus expression vectors include, inter alia, Aedes aegypti, Autographa califormica, Bombyx mori, Drosophila melanogaster, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Trichoplusia ni.

[0121] Nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences of interest can be stably integrated into a host cell genome or maintained on a stable episomal element in a suitable host cell using various gene delivery techniques well known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,346.

[0122] Depending on the expression system and host selected, the molecules are produced by growing host cells transformed by an expression vector described above under conditions whereby the protein is expressed. The expressed protein is then isolated from the host cells and purified. If the expression system secretes the protein into growth media, the product can be purified directly from the media. If it is not secreted, it can be isolated from cell lysates. The selection of the appropriate growth conditions and recovery methods are within the skill of the art.

[0123] The recombinant production of various HCV antigens has been described. See, e.g., Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671; Chien et al., J. Gastroent. Hepatol. (1993) 8:S33-39; Chien et al., International Publication No. WO 93/00365; Chien, D. Y., International Publication No. WO 94/01778.

[0124] Immunodiagnostic Assays

[0125] Once produced, the above anti-core antibodies and NS3/4a antigens are placed on an appropriate solid support for use in the subject immunoassays. A solid support, for the purposes of this invention, can be any material that is an insoluble matrix and can have a rigid or semi-rigid surface. Exemplary solid supports include, but are not limited to, substrates such as nitrocellulose (e.g., in membrane or microtiter well form); polyvinylchloride (e.g., sheets or microtiter wells); polystyrene latex (e.g., beads or microtiter plates); polyvinylidine fluoride; diazotized paper; nylon membranes; activated beads, magnetically responsive beads, and the like. Particular supports include plates, pellets, disks, capillaries, hollow fibers, needles, pins, solid fibers, cellulose beads, pore-glass beads, silica gels, polystyrene beads optionally cross-linked with divinylbenzene, grafted co-poly beads, polyacrylamide beads, latex beads, dimethylacrylamide beads optionally crosslinked with N-N′-bis-acryloylethylenediamine, and glass particles coated with a hydrophobic polymer.

[0126] If desired, the molecules to be added to the solid support can readily be functionalized to create styrene or acrylate moieties, thus enabling the incorporation of the molecules into polystyrene, polyacrylate or other polymers such as polyimide, polyacrylamide, polyethylene, polyvinyl, polydiacetylene, polyphenylene-vinylene, polypeptide, polysaccharide, polysulfone, polypyrrole, polyimidazole, polythiophene, polyether, epoxies, silica glass, silica gel, siloxane, polyphosphate, hydrogel, agarose, cellulose, and the like.

[0127] In one context, a solid support is first reacted with the HCV anti-core antibodies and NS3/4a epitope (collectively called “the solid-phase components” herein), and optionally, one or more MEFAs, under suitable binding conditions such that the molecules are sufficiently immobilized to the support. Sometimes, immobilization to the support can be enhanced by first coupling the antigen and/or antibody to a protein with better solid phase-binding properties. Suitable coupling proteins include, but are not limited to, macromolecules such as serum albumins including bovine serum albumin (BSA), keyhole limpet hemocyanin, immunoglobulin molecules, thyroglobulin, ovalbumin, and other proteins well known to those skilled in the art. Other reagents that can be used to bind molecules to the support include polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers, and the like. Such molecules and methods of coupling these molecules to antigens, are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. See, e.g., Brinkley, M. A. (1992) Bioconjugate Chem. 3:2-13; Hashida et al. (1984) J. Appl. Biochem. 6:56-63; and Anjaneyulu and Staros (1987) International J. of Peptide and Protein Res. 30:117-124.

[0128] After reacting the solid support with the solid-phase components, any nonimmobilized solid-phase components are removed from the support by washing, and the support-bound components are then contacted with a biological sample suspected of containing HCV antibodies and antigens (collectively called “ligand molecules” herein) under suitable binding conditions. After washing to remove any nonbound ligand molecules, a second anti-core antibody, directed against a different epitope than the anti-core antibody bound to the support, is added under suitable binding conditions. The added anti-core antibody includes a detectable label, as described above, and acts to bind any core antigen that might be present in the sample which has reacted with the support-bound anti-core antibody. Also added are one or more antigens that can react with antibodies present in the sample that have, in turn, reacted with the NS3/4A epitope. As explained above, the antigen is typically derived from the NS3 region of the HCV polyprotein, and particularly from the c33c region of HCV. See, Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671; Chien et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (1989) 89:10011-10015; International Publication No. WO 93/00365; and commonly owned, allowed U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/403,590 and 08/444,818, for a description of this region and epitopes derived therefrom. A labeled antibody directed against this antigen is also added. The antibody will therefore bind the antigen, which has reacted with anti-NS3 antibodies present in the sample. For this purpose, the c33c epitope can be conveniently provided as a fusion between c33c and human superoxide dismutase (hSOD), produced recombinantly e.g., by methods described in Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences for human SOD are known and reported in Hallewell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,033. A labeled antibody directed against human SOD can therefore be used to detect the presence of complexes formed between the NS3/4a epitope, any antibodies in the sample which react with this epitope, and HCV polypeptides which in turn bind the antibody in the sample.

[0129] If a MEFA is present on the solid support, one or more additional antigens, reactive with antibodies from the biological sample which are bound to antigens present on the MEFA, may also be added to the assay. Particularly useful in this context is an antigen derived from the core region of HCV, and more particularly, from the c22 antigen which includes 119 N-terminal core amino acids of the HCV polyprotein. One particular antigen derived from c22 is c22ks Δ47-L44W which includes amino acids Lys10 to Ser99 of the polyprotein, as well as a deletion of Arg47 normally present and a substitution of Leu for Trp at position 44. As with the c33c epitope described above, this antigen can be provided as a fusion with hSOD and the same labeled antibody, directed against human SOD, can be used to detect the presence of complexes formed between antibodies present in the sample and the NS3/4a epitope and/or the MEFA, which complexes are also bound with the HCV antigens (e.g., c33c and c22).

[0130] More particularly, an ELISA method can be used, wherein the wells of a microtiter plate are coated with the solid-phase components. A biological sample containing or suspected of containing ligand molecules is then added to the coated wells. After a period of incubation sufficient to allow ligand-molecule binding to the immobilized solid-phase component, the plate(s) can be washed to remove unbound moieties and a detectably labeled secondary binding molecule (labeled anti-core antibody), an NS3 epitope-containing molecule, and an antibody directed against the NS3 epitope-containing molecule added. These molecules are allowed to react with any captured sample antigen and antibody, the plate washed and the presence of the labeled antibodies detected using methods well known in the art.

[0131] The above-described assay reagents, including the immunoassay solid support with bound antibodies and antigens, as well as antibodies and antigens to be reacted with the captured sample, can be provided in kits, with suitable instructions and other necessary reagents, in order to conduct immunoassays as described above. The kit can also contain, depending on the particular immunoassay used, suitable labels and other packaged reagents and materials (i.e. wash buffers and the like). Standard immunoassays, such as those described above, can be conducted using these kits.

[0132] III. Experimental

[0133] Below are examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention. The examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

[0134] Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperatures, etc.), but some experimental error and deviation should, of course, be allowed for.

EXAMPLE 1

HCV Antigen/Antibody Combination Immunoassay

[0135] The present HCV antigen/antibody combination immunoassay was compared to other HCV assays to test the seroconversion detection limits and compare these limits to those obtained in other commercially available assays as follows.

[0136] A. Materials and Methods

[0137] Blood Samples:

[0138] Panels of commercially available human blood samples were used. Such panels are available from, e.g., Boston Biomedica, Inc., West Bridgewater, MA (BBI); Bioclinical Partners, Franklin, MA (BCP); and North American Biologics, Inc., BocoRatan, FL (NABI). The days indicated in Tables 5 and 6 are days on which blood was collected from the subjects.

[0139] Monoclonal Antibodies:

[0140] Monoclonal antibodies c11-3, c 1-7 and c 1-14 were obtained from Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, N.J. The c11-3 and c11-7 antibodies are directed against an N-terminal portion of the core (amino acids 10-53, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein). Monoclonal antibody c11-14 is directed against a C-terminal portion of the core (amino acids 120-130, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein). The c11-14 antibody was conjugated to horse radish peroxidase (HRP) using standard procedures.

[0141] Monoclonal antibody 5A-3 is an anti-SOD antibody directed against amino acids 1 to 65 of SOD and was made using standard techniques. The antibody was conjugated to HRP as described above.

[0142] B. Antigens:

[0143] The c33c antigen (266 amino acids, amino acids 1192 to 1457 of the HCV1 polyprotein) was expressed as an internal SOD fusion polypeptide in E. coli by methods described for the synthesis of the 5-1-1 antigen (Choo, et al., Science (1989) 244:359-362, herein incorporated by reference). The recombinant antigen was purified as described in Chien, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (1989) 89:10011-10015 (herein incorporated by reference). See, also, Houghton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,671, for production protocols for SOD-c33c.

[0144] The NS3/4a epitope used in the assay is a conformational epitope having the sequence specified in FIG. 3.

[0145] C. Immunoassay Formats:

[0146] The Abbott PRISM assay (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.), is commercially available and is an antibody-based detection assay. The assay was performed using the manufacturer's instructions.

[0147] The ORTHO HCV Version 3.0 ELISA Test System (termed Ortho 3.0 assay herein, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, N.J.) is an antibody-based detection assay. The assay was conducted using the manufacturer's instructions.

[0148] The Roche Amplicor assay (Roche, Pleasant, Calif.) is a commercially available PCR-based assay. The assay was performed using the manufacturer's instructions.

[0149] The Gen-Probe TMA assay (San Diego, Calif.) is a commercially available transcription-mediated amplification assay. The assay was performed using the manufacturer's instructions.

[0150] The Ortho antigen assay (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, N.J.) is an antigen-based detection assay. The assay was performed using the manufacturer's instructions.

[0151] The subject HCV antigen/antibody combination immunoassay was performed as follows. 4mg/mL each of purified monoclonal antibodies C11-7 and C11-3 in lx phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4 were combined and mixed well. 90 ng of the NS3/4a recombinant antigen was added to the same coating buffer. The solution was mixed for 30 minutes prior to coating. 200 mL of the above solution was added per well to 96-well Costar medium binding microtiter plates (Coming, Inc.) Plates were incubated at 15-30° C. for 16-24 hours. Plates were washed two times with dH20, followed with 300 μL/well postcoat buffer (1% bovine serum albumin (BSA), 1× PBS) for 1 hour and 3001l/well stability buffer (1× PBS, 1% BSA, mannitol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), gelatin) for 1 hour. Plates were aspirated and dried at 4° C. in a lyophilizer for 24 hours. Plates were pouched with desiccant.

[0152] To conduct the antigen/antibody combination immunoassay, 100 μL of enhanced lysis buffer (1% N-laurylsarcosine, 0.65M NaCl, 50mg/mL mouse IgG technical grade (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.), 1% BSA sulfhydryl-modified (Bayer), 0.1% Casein) were added to the plate. 100 mL of sample were then added. This was incubated on a shaker at 40° C. for one hour. The plates were washed six times with 1× PBS, 0.1% Tween-20, on an Ortho Plate Washer. 200 mL conjugate solution (1:75 dilution c11-14-HRP with 250 ng/assay SOD-c33c antigen plus 1:5000 dilution mouse anti-SOD-HRP in HCV 3.0 sample diluent (from ORTHO HCV Version 3.0 ELISA Test System, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, N.J.) without SOD extract, all prepared 30 minutes prior to addition). The solution was incubated 45 minutes with shaking at 40° C. This was washed six times, as above, and 200 mL substrate solution (1 OPD tablet/10 mL) was added. The OPD tablet contains o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride and hydrogen peroxide for horse radish peroxidase reaction color development and is available from Sigma, St. Louis, MO. This was incubated 30 minutes at 15-30° C. in the dark. The reaction was stopped by addition of 50 mL 4N H2SO4 and the plates were read at 492 nm, relative to absorbance at 690 nm as control.

[0153] D. Results:

[0154] The results of the various assays are shown in Tables 5 and 6, which depict two separate experiments done on blood samples exposed to HCV infection as indicated. Shaded areas indicate detection of virus. As shown in below, Chiron's combination antigen/antibody assay detected seroconversion in all samples, while all other antibody- and antigen-based assays failed to detect seroconversion in at least one sample. In particular, neither of the antibody-based assays detected seroconversion until at least day 18 (Table 5). Table 6 shows that neither of the antibody-based assays detected the presence of HCV infection at day 22. Moreover, the Ortho antigen-based assay failed to detect seroconversion from days 85 on.

[0155] Thus, based on the above results, it is clear that the novel combination antibody/antigen assay reduces the number of false negatives obtained using other conventional antibody- and antigen-based assays.

TABLE 5
HCV Seroconversion
	Abbott	Ortho	Roche	Gen-Probe	Ortho	Chiron
Days	PRISM	3.0	Amplicor	TMA	Ag	Ag/Ab
0	0.1	0.0	>5 × 105	9.25	18.6	2.8
4	0.1	0.0	>5 × 105	9.29	19.0	3.1
7	0.1	0.0	>5 × 105	9.52	22.3	1.5
13	0.3	0.1	>5 × 105	9.59	26.2	1.7
18	1.3	0.4	>5 × 105	9.70	15.9	1.2
21	2.2	1.0	>5 × 105	9.39	11.3	1.5
164	4.2	4.4	4 × 104	9.28	0.11	2.5

[0156]

TABLE 6
HCV Seroconversion
	Abbott	Ortho	Roche	Gen-Probe	Ortho	Chiron
Days	PRISM	3.0	Amplicor	TMA	Ag	Ag/Ab
0	0.1	0.0	BLD		0.11	0.5
13	0.1	0.0	>5 × 105		44.0	3.0
20	0.1	0.0	>5 × 105		24.2	1.3
22	0.3	0.0	>5 × 105		29.2	1.6
85	5.4	4.7	BQR		0.06	1.1
131	4.3	4.7	BQR		0.09	1.0
135	4.6	4.7	3 × 103		0.09	1.2
138	5.5	4.7	BLD		0.08	1.2
146	5.9	4.7	BLD		0.11	2.1
152	5.2	4.7	BQR		0.07	1.8

EXAMPLE 2

Production of an NS3/4a Conformational Epitope with Thr to Pro and Ser to Ile Substitutions

[0157] A conformational epitope of NS3/4a was obtained as follows. This epitope has the sequence specified in FIGS. 4A through 4D and differs from the native sequence at positions 403 (amino acid 1428 of the HCV-1 full-length sequence) and 404 (amino acid 1429 of the HCV-1 full-length sequence). Specifically, the Thr normally occurring at position 1428 of the native sequence has been mutated to Pro and Ser which occurs at position 1429 of the native sequence has been mutated to Ile.

[0158] In particular, the yeast expression vector used was pBS24. 1, described above. Plasmid pd.hcvla.ns3ns4aPI, which encoded a representative NS3/4a epitope used in the subject immunoassays, was produced as follows. A two step procedure was used. First, the following DNA pieces were ligated together: (a) synthetic oligonucleotides which would provide a 5′ HindIII cloning site, followed by the sequence ACAAAACAAA, the initiator ATG, and codons for HCV1a, beginning with amino acid 1027 and continuing to a BgII site at amino acid 1046; (b) a 683 bp BgII-ClaI restriction fragment (encoding amino acids 1046-1274) from pAcHLTns3ns4aPI; and (c) a pSP72 vector (Promega, Madison, Wis., GenBank/EMBL Accession Number X65332) which had been digested with HindIII and ClaI, dephosphorylated, and gel-purified. Plasmid pAcHLTns3ns4aPI was derived from pAcHLT, a baculovirus expression vector commercially available from BD Pharmingen (San Diego, Calif.). In particular, a pAcHLT EcoRI-PstI vector was prepared, as well as the following fragments: EcoRI-AlwnI, 935 bp, corresponding to amino acids 1027-1336 of the HCV-1 genome; AlwnI-SacII, 247 bp, corresponding to amino acids 1336-1419 of the HCV-1 genome; HinfI-BgII, 175 bp, corresponding to amino acids 1449-1509 of the HCV-1 genome; BgII-PstI, 619 bp, corresponding to amino acids 1510-1711 of the HCV-1 genome, plus the transcription termination codon. A SacII-HinfI synthetically generated fragment of 91 bp, corresponding to amino acids 1420-1448 of the HCV-1 genome and containing the PI mutations (Thr-1428 mutated to Pro, Ser-1429 mutated to Ile), was ligated with the 175 bp HinfI-BgII fragment and the 619 bp BgII-PstI fragment described above and subcloned into a pGEM-5Zf(+) vector digested with SacII and PstI. pGEM-5Zf(+) is a commercially available E. coli vector (Promega, Madison, Wis., GenBank/EMBL Accession Number X65308). After transformation of competent HB101 cells, miniscreen analysis of individual clones and sequence verification, an 885 bp SacII-PstI fragment from pGEM5.PI clone2 was gel-purified. This fragment was ligated with the EcoRI-AlwnI 935 bp fragment, the AlwnI-SacII 247 bp fragment and the pAcHLT EcoRI-PstI vector, described above. The resultant construct was named pAcHLTns3ns4aPI.

[0159] The ligation mixture above was transformed into HB101-competent cells and plated on Luria agar plates containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin. Miniprep analyses of individual clones led to the identification of putative positives, two of which were amplified. The plasmid DNA for pSP72 1aHC, clones #1 and #2 were prepared with a Qiagen Maxiprep kit and were sequenced.

[0160] Next, the following fragments were ligated together: (a) a 761 bp HindIII-ClaI fragment from pSP721aHC #1 (pSP72.1aHC was generated by ligating together the following: pSP72 which had been digested with HindIII and ClaI, synthetic oligonucleotides which would provide a 5′ HindIII cloning site, followed by the sequence ACAAAACAAA, the initiation codon ATG, and codons for HCV1a, beginning with amino acid 1027 and continuing to a BglII site at amino acid 1046, and a 683 bp BglII-ClaI restriction fragment (encoding amino acids 1046-1274) from pAcHLTns3ns4aPI); (b) a 1353 bp BamHI-HindIII fragment for the yeast hybrid promoter ADH2/GAPDH; (c) a 1320 bp ClaI-SalI fragment (encoding HCV1a amino acids 1046-1711 with Thr 1428 mutated to Pro and Ser 1429 mutated to Ile) from pAcHLTns3ns4aPI; and (d) the pBS24.1 yeast expression vector which had been digested with BamHI and SalI, dephosphorylated and gel-purified. The ligation mixture was transformed into competent HB 1101 and plated on Luria agar plates containing 100 g/ml ampicillin. Miniprep analyses of individual colonies led to the identification of clones with the expected 3446 bp BamHI-SalI insert which was comprised of the ADH2/GAPDH promoter, the initiator codon ATG and HCV1a NS 3/4a from amino acids 1027-1711 (shown as amino acids 1-686 of FIGS. 4A-4D), with Thr 1428 (amino acid position 403 of FIGS. 4A-4D) mutated to Pro and Ser 1429 (amino acid position 404 of FIGS. 4A-4D) mutated to Ile. The construct was named pd.HCVla.ns3ns4aPI (see, FIG. 5).

[0161] S. cerevisiae strain AD3 was transformed with pd.HCVla.ns3ns4aPI and single transformants were checked for expression after depletion of glucose in the medium. The recombinant protein was expressed at high levels in yeast, as detected by Coomassie blue staining and confirmed by immunoblot analysis using a polyclonal antibody to the helicase domain of NS3.

EXAMPLE 3

Purification of NS3/4a Conformational Epitope

[0162] The NS3/4a conformational epitope was purified as follows. S. cerevisiae cells from above, expressing the NS3/4a epitope were harvested as described above. The cells were suspended in lysis buffer (50 mM Tris pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM PMSF, 0.1 μM pepstatin, 1 μM leupeptin) and lysed in a Dyno-Mill (Wab Willy A. Bachofon, Basel, Switzerland) or equivalent apparatus using glass beads, at a ratio of 1:1:1 cells:buffer:0.5 mm glassbeads. The lysatewas centrifuged at 30100× g for 30 min at 4° C. and the pellet containing the insoluble protein fraction was added to wash buffer (6 ml/g start cell pellet weight) and rocked at room temperature for 15 min. The wash buffer consisted of 50 mM NaPO4 pH 8.0, 0.3 M NaCl, 5 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 10% glycerol, 0.05% octyl glucoside, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM PMSF, 0.1 μM pepstatin, 1 μM leupeptin. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 30100× g for 30 min at 4° C. The supernatant was discarded and the pellet retained.

[0163] Protein was extracted from the pellet as follows. 6 ml/g extraction buffer was added and rocked at room temperature for 15 min. The extraction buffer consisted of 50 mM Tris pH 8.0, 1 M NaCl, 5 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 10% glycerol, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM PMSF, 0.1 μM pepstatin, 1 μM leupeptin. This was centrifuged at 30100× g for 30 min at 4° C. The supernatant was retained and ammonium sulfate added to 17.5% using the following formula: volume of supernatant (ml) multiplied by x% ammonium sulfate/(1−x% ammonium sulfate)=ml of 4.1 M saturated ammonium sulfate to add to the supernatant. The ammonium sulfate was added dropwise while stirring on ice and the solution stirred on ice for 10 min. The solution was centrifuged at 17700× g for 30 min at 4° C. and the pellet retained and stored at 2° C. to 8° C. for up to 48 hrs.

[0164] The pellet was resuspended and run on a Poly U column (Poly U Sepharose 4B, Amersham Pharmacia) at 4° C. as follows. Pellet was resuspended in 6 ml Poly U equilibration buffer per gram of pellet weight. The equilibration buffer consisted of 25 mM HEPES pH 8.0, 200 mM NaCl, 5 mM DTT (added fresh), 10% glycerol, 1.2 octyl glucoside. The solution was rocked at 4° C. for 15 min and centrifuged at 31000× g for 30min at 4° C.

[0165] A Poly U column (1 ml resin per gram start pellet weight) was prepared. Linear flow rate was 60 cm/hr and packing flow rate was 133% of 60 cm/hr. The column was equilibrated with equilibration buffer and the supernatant of the resuspended ammonium sulfate pellet was loaded onto the equilibrated column. The column was washed to baseline with the equilibration buffer and protein eluted with a step elution in the following Poly U elution buffer: 25 mM HEPES pH 8.0, 1 M NaCl, 5 mM DTT (added fresh), 10% glycerol, 1.2 octyl glucoside. Column eluate was run on SDS-PAGE (Coomassie stained) and aliquots frozen and stored at −80° C. The presence of the NS3/4a epitope was confirmed by Western blot, using a polyclonal antibody directed against the NS3 protease domain and a monoclonal antibody against the 5-1-1 epitope (HCV 4a).

[0166] Additionally, protease enzyme activity was monitored during purification as follows. An NS4A peptide (KKGSVVIVGRIVLSGKPAIIPKK), and the sample containing the NS3/4a conformational epitope, were diluted in 90 μl of reaction buffer (25 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 0.15M NaCl, 0.5 mM EDTA, 10% glycerol, 0.05 n-Dodecyl B-D-Maltoside, 5 mM DTT) and allowed to mix for 30 minutes at room temperature. 90 μl of the mixture were added to a microtiter plate (Costar, Inc., Coming, NY) and 10 μl of HCV substrate (AnaSpec, Inc., San Jose Calif.) was added. The plate was mixed and read on a Fluostar plate reader. Results were expressed as relative fluorescence units (RFU) per minute.

[0167] Using these methods, the product of the 1 M NaCl extraction contained 3.7 RFU/min activity, the ammonium sulfate precipitate had an activity of 7.5 RFU/min and the product of the Poly U purification had an activity of 18.5 RFU/min.

EXAMPLE 4

Competition Studies

[0168] The following competition study was conducted in order to assess whether the NS3/4a conformational epitope detected different antibodies than other HCV antigens. In particular, the NS3/4a antigen was compared with the c200 antigen as follows.

[0169] 0.5 μg and 1.0 μg of NS3/4a, produced as described above, or c200 (Hepatology (1992) 15:19-25, available in the ORTHO HCV Version 3.0 ELISA Test System, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, N.J.), were mixed with 20 μl of sample PHV914-5 (an early seroconversion bleed obtained from blood of an infected individual) in a total volume of 220 μl (1× PBS). The mixture was incubated for 1 hour in microwells at 37° C. The mixture was then transferred to NS3/4a-coated plates and incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. Plates were washed and assayed as follows.

[0170] 1 μg of c200 antigen was added to 10 μl of sample PHV914-5 in a total volume of about 220 μl. The mixture was incubated for 1 hour in a micro well at 37° C. and 200 μl transferred to an NS3/4a-coated plate (100 ng/assay) and incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. Plates were washed five times with 1× PBS, 0.1% Tween-20. 200 μl of conjugate solution (described above) were added, and the plates incubated and assayed. Controls which consisted of PHV914-5 and 1× PBS (without antigen) were also treated as above.

[0171] Results are shown in Table 7. Percent inhibition results shown in column 4 are calculated as column 3 minus (column 2 divided by column 3 times 100). As can be seen, the data show that NS34a is neutralized by early seroconversion antibodies and c200 is not. A strong signal was achieved when antibodies in PHV914-5 c33c early seroconversion panel member reacted with the NS34a coated on the plate. The c200 antigen was not neutralized by these antibodies. This is shown in the top panel of Table 7. When NS34a was mixed with the PHV914-5 sample, it was neutralized and therefore no antibodies were present in the sample to react with NS34a that was coated on the microplate. The data indicate that NS34a may be detecting a different class of antibodies than is detected by c200.

TABLE 7
Competition Studies to Show NS34a Antigen Detects
Different Antibodies in Early c33c Seroconversion
Panel Compared to c200 Antigen
		2	3
	1	PHV914-5	*Control 1xPBS	4
c200	+	s	s	% Inhibition
1 ug		1.450	1.645	12
1 ug		1.545	1.687	8
0.5 ug		1.557	1.913	19
0.5 ug		1.719	1.804	5
		PHV914-5
NS3/4a	+	s	s
1 ug		0.054	1.599	97
1 ug		0.037	1.677	98
0.5 ug		0.066	1.672	96
0.5 ug		NA	1.524	NA

EXAMPLE 5

Stability Studies of NS3/4a Conformational Epitope

[0172] To assess the role of stability of the NS3/4a epitope to assay performance, the following study was done to determine NS3/4a immunoreactivity versus time at room temperature. Small aliquots of stock NS3/4a were allowed to sit at room temperature and then frozen at intervals as shown in Table 8. All vials were coated simultaneously and tested against two early NS3 seroconversion panels.

[0173] As can be seen in Table 8, the NS3/4a stock is not stable and immunoreactivity decreases with time. In addition, maintaining NS3/4a conformation is necessary for immunoreactivity.

[0174] Further stability studies were conducted as follows. Two conformational monoclonal antibodies made against NS3/4a using standard procedures were substituted for anti-HCV early seroconversion panels. Stock NS3/4a vials were stored at room temperature at time intervals 3, 6 and 24 hours. The NS3/4a from the frozen vials was coated at 90 ng/ml and assayed using the procedure described above. Results suggested that the two monoclonals were indeed conformational and their reactivity was sensitive to the handling of stock NS3/4a antigen at room temperature. The reactivity of a positive control monoclonal antibody did not change.

TABLE 8
								control
	0	6	21.4	29	35.5	46	52	Ref-
	A	D	G	H	I	K	N	erence
Time (hrs)	s/co	s/co	s/co	s/co	s/co	s/co	s/co	s/co
PHV 904-1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
PHV 904-2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
PHV 904-3	1.5	0.3	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.8
PHV 904-4	3.7	1.0	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	4.4
PHV 904-5	4.8	2.0	0.7	0.6	0.3	0.2	0.3	5.5
PHV 904-6	5.4	2.8	1.1	1.0	0.6	0.5	0.6	5.8
PHV 904-7	5.1	3.4	1.5	1.0	1.1	0.5	0.7	5.4
PHV 914-1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
PHV 914-2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
PHV 914-3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
PHV 914-4	0.5	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7
PHV 914-5	2.1	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0
PHV 914-6	2.3	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.4
PHV 914-7	2.8	0.5	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.9
PHV 904-8	2.9	0.7	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	4.9
Enzyme	8.75	4.14	3.08	1.88	1.75	1.75	0.75
RFU/min

EXAMPLE 6

Immunoreactivity of NS3/4a Conformational Epitope Verus Denatured NS3/4a

[0175] The immunoreactivity of the NS3/4a conformational epitope, produced as described above, was compared to NS3/4a which had been denatured by adding SDS to the NS3/4a conformational epitope preparation to a final concentration of 2%. The denatured NS3/4a and conformational NS3/4a were coated onto microtiter plates as described above. The c200 antigen (Hepatology (1992) 15:19-25, available in the ORTHO HCV Version 3.0 ELISA Test System, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, N.J.) was also coated onto microtiter plates. The c200 antigen was used as a comparison it is presumed to be non-conformational due to the presence of reducing agent (DTT) and detergent (SDS) in its formulation.

[0176] The immunoreactivity was tested against two early HCV seroconversion panels, PHV 904 and PHV 914 (commercially available human blood samples from Boston Biomedica, Inc., West Bridgewater, Mass.). The results are shown in Table 9. The data suggest that the denatured or linearized form of NS3/4a (as well as c200) does not detect early seroconversion panels as early as the NS3/4a conformational epitope.

	TABLE 9
	NS3/4a vs. denatured NS3/4a
	*Spiked 2% SDS to stock NS3/4a
	NS3/4a	dNS3/4a*	c200	NS3/4a	dNS3/4a*	c200
	OD	OD	OD	s/co	s/co	s/co
HCV	PHV 904-1	0.012	0.012	0.009	0.02	0.02	0.01
Seroconversions	PHV 904-2	0.011	0.009	0.008	0.02	0.01	0.01
	PHV 904-3	1.124	0.071	0.045	1.80	0.11	0.07
	PHV 904-4	2.401	0.273	0.129	3.85	0.44	0.21
	PHV 904-5	3.022	0.793	0.347	4.85	1.28	0.57
	PHV 904-6	2.711	1.472	0.774	4.35	2.37	1.28
	PHV 904-7	3.294	1.860	0.943	5.28	2.99	1.55
	PHV 914-1	0.006	0.004	0.001	0.01	0.01	0.00
	PHV 914-2	0.005	0.004	0.002	0.01	0.01	0.00
	PHV 914-3	0.098	0.003	0.001	0.16	0.00	0.00
	PHV 914-4	1.118	0.006	0.004	1.79	0.01	0.01
	PHV 914-5	2.035	0.044	0.022	3.26	0.07	0.04
	PHV 914-6	2.092	0.074	0.025	3.35	0.12	0.04
	PHV 914-7	2.519	0.281	0.132	4.04	0.45	0.22
	PHV 914-8	2.746	0.907	0.500	4.40	1.46	0.82
	PHV 914-9	3.084	1.730	0.931	4.94	2.78	1.53
HCV 3.0	Neg. Cont.	0.023	0.024	0.008
Controls	Neg. Cont.	0.027	0.024	0.007
	Neg. Cont.	0.021	0.017	0.005
	average	0.024	0.022	0.007
	cutoff	0.624	0.622	0.607
	Pos. Cont.	1.239	0.903	0.575	1.99	1.45	0.95
	Pos. Cont.	1.445	0.916	0.614	2.32	1.47	1.01

[0177] Immunoreactivity of the conformational epitope was also tested using monoclonal antibodies to NS3/4a, made using standard procedures. These monoclonal antibodies were then tested in the ELISA format against NS3/4a and denatured NS3/4a and c200 antigen. The data show that anti-NS3/4a monoclonals react to the NS3/4a and denatured NS3/4a in a similar manner to the seroconversion panels shown in Table 10. This result also provides further evidence that the NS3/4a is conformational in nature as monoclonal antibodies can be made which are similar in reactivity to the early c33c seroconversion panels .

	TABLE 10
	Plate
		NS3/4a	dNS3/4a	c200
	Monoclonal	OD	OD	OD
	4B9/E3	1:100	1.820	0.616	0.369
		1:1000	1.397	0.380	0.246
		1:10000	0.864	0.173	0.070
		1:20000	0.607	0.116	0.085
	5B7/D7	1:100	2.885	0.898	0.436
		1:1000	2.866	0.541	0.267
		1:10000	1.672	0.215	0.086
		1:20000	1.053	0.124	0.059
	1A8/H2	1:100	1.020	0.169	0.080
		1:1000	0.921	0.101	0.043
		1:10000	0.653	0.037	0.013
		1:20000	0.337	0.027	0.011

[0178] Accordingly, novel HCV detection assays have been disclosed. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein.

Claims

1. An immunoassay solid support comprising at least one hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti-core antibody and at least one isolated HCV NS3/4a epitope bound thereto.

2. The immunoassay solid support of claim 1, comprising at least two HCV anti-core antibodies bound thereto.

3. The immunoassay solid support of claim 1, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen.

4. The immunoassay solid support of claim 3, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

5. The immunoassay solid support of claim 1, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

6. The immunoassay solid support of claim 1, wherein said NS3/4a epitope is a conformational epitope and comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D.

7. The immunoassay solid support of claim 1, further comprising a multiple epitope fusion antigen bound thereto.

8. The immunoassay solid support of claim 7, wherein said multiple epitope fusion antigen comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F.

9. An immunoassay solid support comprising two hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti-core monoclonal antibodies and an HCV NS3/4a conformational epitope comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, bound thereto.

10. The immunoassay solid support of claim 9, wherein said two anti-core antibodies are directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen.

11. The immunoassay solid support of claim 10, wherein said two anti-core antibodies are directed against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

12. An immunoassay solid support comprising two hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti-core monoclonal antibodies, an HCV NS3/4a conformational epitope comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, and a multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F, bound thereto.

13. A method of detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a biological sample, said method comprising: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support according to claim 1;(b) combining a biological sample with said solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to said at least one anti-core antibody and said NS3/4a epitope, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein said first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein said labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least one anti-core antibody bound to the solid support; (ii) an antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample reactive with said NS3/4a epitope; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein said second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the antigen of (ii); (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample comprises an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the c33c epitope is fused with a human superoxide dismutase (hSOD) amino acid sequence and the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequence.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said NS3/4a epitope is a conformational epitope and comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D.

19. A method of detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a biological sample, said method comprising: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support according to claim 2;(b) combining a biological sample with said solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the said at least two anti-core antibodies and said NS3/4a epitope, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein said first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein said labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least two anti-core antibodies bound to the solid support; (ii) an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein said second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequence; (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said NS3/4a epitope is a conformational epitope and comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D.

21. A method of detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a biological sample, said method comprising: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support according to claim 9; (b) combining a biological sample with said solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the said at least two anti-core antibodies and said NS3/4a conformational epitope, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein said first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein said labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least two anti-core antibodies bound to the solid support; (ii) an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein said second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequence; (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least two anti-core antibodies are directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least two anti-core antibodies are directed against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

24. A method of detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a biological sample, said method comprising: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support according to claim 7; (b) combining a biological sample with said solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to said at least one anti-core antibody, said NS3/4a epitope, and said multiple epitope fusion antigen; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein said first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein said labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least one anti-core antibody bound to the solid support; (ii) first and second antigens that react with an HCV antibody from the biological sample reactive with said NS3/4a epitope and said multiple epitope fusion antigen, respectively; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein said second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with the antigens of (ii); (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen and said first detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said at least one anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said first antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample comprises an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the c33c epitope is fused with a human superoxide dismutase (hSOD) amino acid sequence and the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequence.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said second antigen that reacts with an HCV antibody from the biological sample comprises an epitope from the c22 region of the HCV polyprotein.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the epitope from the c22 region comprises amino acids Lys10 to Ser99 of the HCV polyprotein, with a deletion of Arg47 and a substitution of Leu for Trp at position 44, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence, wherein said epitope is fused with a human superoxide dismutase (hSOD) amino acid sequence and the second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequence.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said multiple epitope fusion antigen comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F.

32. A method of detecting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a biological sample, said method comprising: (a) providing an immunoassay solid support according to claim 12; (b) combining a biological sample with said solid support under conditions which allow HCV antigens and antibodies, when present in the biological sample, to bind to the said at least two anti-core antibodies, said NS3/4a conformational epitope, and said multiple epitope fusion antigen, respectively; (c) adding to the solid support from step (b) under complex forming conditions (i) a first detectably labeled antibody, wherein said first detectably labeled antibody is a detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody, wherein said labeled anti-core antibody is directed against a different HCV core epitope than the at least two anti-core antibodies bound to the solid support; (ii) an epitope from the c33c region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence and an epitope from the c22 region of the HCV polyprotein fused to an hSOD amino acid sequence; and (iii) a second detectably labeled antibody, wherein said second detectably labeled antibody is reactive with said hSOD amino acid sequences; (d) detecting complexes formed between the antibodies and antigens, if any, as an indication of HCV infection in the biological sample.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said at least two anti-core antibodies are directed against an N-terminal region of the HCV core antigen and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against a C-terminal region of the HCV core antigen.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said at least two anti-core antibodies are directed against amino acids 10-53 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence and said detectably labeled HCV anti-core antibody is directed against amino acids 120-130 of HCV, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the epitope from the c22 region comprises amino acids Lys10 to Ser99 of the HCV polyprotein, with a deletion of Arg47 and a substitution of Leu for Trp at position 44, numbered relative to the HCV1 polyprotein sequence.

36. An immunodiagnostic test kit comprising the immunoassay solid support of claim 1, and instructions for conducting the immunodiagnostic test.

37. An immunodiagnostic test kit comprising the immunoassay solid support of claim 9, and instructions for conducting the immunodiagnostic test.

38. An immunodiagnostic test kit comprising the immunoassay solid support of claim 12, and instructions for conducting the immunodiagnostic test.

39. A method of producing an immunoassay solid support, comprising: (a) providing a solid support; and (b) binding at least one hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti-core antibody and at least one isolated HCV NS3/4a conformational epitope thereto.

40. A method of producing an immunoassay solid support, comprising: (a) providing a solid support; and (b) binding two hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti-core antibodies and an isolated HCV NS3/ 4a conformational epitope thereto .

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising binding at least one multiple epitope fusion antigen to the solid support.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising binding at least one multiple epitope fusion antigen to the solid support.

43. A method of producing an immunoassay solid support, comprising: (a) providing a solid support; and (b) binding two hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti-core antibodies, an isolated HCV NS3/4a conformational epitope, and a multiple epitope fusion antigen, thereto.

44. A multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F, or an amino acid sequence with at least 80% sequence identity thereto which reacts specifically with anti-HCV antibodies present in a biological sample from an HCV-infected individual.

45. The multiple epitope fusion antigen of claim 44, wherein said multiple epitope fusion antigen comprises the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 7A-7F, or an amino acid sequence with at least 90% sequence identity thereto which reacts specifically with anti-HCV antibodies present in a biological sample from an HCV-infected individual.

46. The multiple epitope fusion antigen of claim 44, wherein said multiple epitope fusion antigen consists of the amino acid sequence depicted in FIGS. 5A-5F.

47. A polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence for the multiple epitope fusion antigen of claim 44.

48. A polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence for the multiple epitope fusion antigen of claim 45.

49. A polynucleotide comprising a coding sequence for the multiple epitope fusion antigen of claim 46.

50. A recombinant vector comprising: (a) a polynucleotide according to claim 47; (b) and control elements operably linked to said polynucleotide whereby the coding sequence can be transcribed and translated in a host cell.

51. A recombinant vector comprising: (a) a polynucleotide according to claim 48; (b) and control elements operably linked to said polynucleotide whereby the coding sequence can be transcribed and translated in a host cell.

52. A recombinant vector comprising: (a) a polynucleotide according to claim 49; (b) and control elements operably linked to said polynucleotide whereby the coding sequence can be transcribed and translated in a host cell.

53. A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of claim 50.

54. A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of claim 51.

55. A host cell transformed with the recombinant vector of claim 52.

56. A method of producing a recombinant multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising: (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim 53; and (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the multiple epitope fusion antigen encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.

57. A method of producing a recombinant multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising: (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim 54; and (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the multiple epitope fusion antigen encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.

58. A method of producing a recombinant multiple epitope fusion antigen comprising: (a) providing a population of host cells according to claim 55; and (b) culturing said population of cells under conditions whereby the multiple epitope fusion antigen encoded by the coding sequence present in said recombinant vector is expressed.