Linear and branched peptides effective in diagnosing and detecting non-A, non-B hepatitis

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel linear and branched peptides specific for the diagnosis and prevention of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH), as well as hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. More particularly, the present invention is directed to linear peptides diagnostic for NS-3 of HCV as well as branched synthetic substituted and hybrid peptides containing at least one epitope which is effective in detecting NANBH-associated antibodies in patients with NANBH using immunoassay techniques. In addition, this invention provides immunoassays for the detection and diagnosis of NANBH using the subject peptides, vaccine compositions for prevention and treatment of NANBH or HCV infection as well as a method of treating or preventing NANBH and HCV infection.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel linear and branched peptides specific for the diagnosis and prevention of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH), including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. More particularly, the present invention is directed to linear and to branched synthetic peptides containing at least one epitope which is effective in detecting NANBH-associated antibodies in patients with NANBH using immunoassay techniques. Further, the present invention is directed to synthetic peptides which are hybrids of the peptides described herein. In addition the subject peptides can be used as antigens to elicit monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against HCV and as immunogens in vaccines for prevention and treatment of NANBH or HCV infection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) remains the most common form of post-transfusion hepatitis, imposing a strong need for sensitive and specific diagnostic screening methods to identify potential blood donors and other persons who may be carriers of the disease. Thus, accurate screening methods are needed to permit removal of contaminated blood and blood products from the blood supply with a high degree confidence.

The etiological agent of NANBH, HCV, has been cloned and identified by several groups [Houghton et al., EP 0318216, published 5/1989; Okamoto et al. (1990) Jpn. J. Exp. Med. 60:167; Houghton et al., EP 0388232, published 9/1990; and Kato et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:9524; Arima et al. (1989a) Gastroenterologia Japonica 24:540; Reyes et al. (1990) Science 247:1335; Arima et al. (1989b) Gastroenterologia Japonica 24:545; Maeno et al. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18:2685]. The HCV genome is about 10 kilobases (kb) in length and encodes a single polyprotein which is processed into structural and non-structural proteins. From the N terminus, the polyprotein includes the capsid and envelope proteins of the structural region and the NS-1 to NS-5 proteins of the non-structural region.

While some antigenic regions of HCV have been identified, peptides and recombinant proteins from these regions exhibit a variable degree of sensitivity and selectivity in detection and diagnosis of NANBH carriers. Antigenic regions have been reported in the core, or capsid, protein [Hosein et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:3647; UBI HCV EIA Product Insert (1990); Okamoto et al. (1990) Jap. J. Exp. Med. 60:223; U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,726; Takahashi et al. (1992) J. Gen. Virol. 73:667; Kotwal et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:4486]; in the envelope, NS-1, NS-2 and NS-3 proteins [Wang et al., EP 0468527, published Jan. 29, 1992]; NS-4 protein [Houghton (1989); Kuo et al. (1989) Science 244:362; U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,726] and NS-5 protein [Maeno et al. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18:2685; Wang (1992)].

In addition to HCV-derived antigens, there exist other NANBH-associated antigens that appear to be encoded by a host cellular sequence. One such antigen, known as the GOR epitope, is reactive with sera from individuals who are PCR positive for HCV [Mishiro et al. (1990) Lancet 336:1400].

Serological analysis has been used to map epitopes within certain HCV antigenic regions as described in Wang (1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,726, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. These mapping studies employed synthetic peptides to screen well-characterized NANBH serum panels and permitted identification of highly immunoreactive HCV antigens. Further refinement of the epitope analysis using serological validation techniques has led to the discovery that small clusters of amino acid residues contained within longer peptides or fusions of peptides containing one or more epitopes from separate regions of the HCV genome can provide a superior and more sensitive assay for diagnosis and detection of NANBH carriers as well as for HCV infection. Extensive testing of long, overlapping peptides covering the NS-3 region has led to the identification of a group of immunodominant peptides containing conformational epitopes. This group of peptides is of particular use in detecting NANBH-associated antibodies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to linear and to branched synthetic peptides for the diagnosis and detection of NANBH and HCV infection. In particular the subject peptides are provided as a peptide composition having at least one linear peptide or at least one branched peptide.

The linear peptides are specifically immunoreactive with antibodies against HCV and are derived from an amino acid sequence from the group consisting of sequence of

Ala-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ile-Pro-Leu-Glu-Val-Ile-Lys-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Leu-Ile-Phe-Cys-His-Ser-Lys-Lys-Lys-Cys-Asp-Glu-Leu-Ala-Ala-Lys-Leu-Val-Ala-Leu-Gly-Ile-Asn-Ala-Val-Ala-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Asp-Val-Ser-Val-Ile-Pro-Thr-Ser-Gly-Asp-Val-Val-Val-Val-Ala-Thr-Asp-Ala-Leu-Met-Thr-Gly-Tyr-Thr-Gly-Asp-Phe-Asp-Ser-Val-Ile-Asp-Cys-Asn-Thr-Cys-Val, (PepB; SEQ ID NO.:7), and Ala-Leu-Gly-His-Glu-Gly-Glu-Ile-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ile-Pro-Leu-Ala-Phe-Ile-Lys-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Leu-Ile-Phe-Cys-His-Ser-Lys-Lys-Lys-Cys-Asp-Glu-Leu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Leu-Arg-Gly-Met-Gly-Val-Asn-Ala-Val-Ala-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Asp-Val-Ser-Val-Ile-Pro-Thr-Gln-Gly-Asp-Val-Val-Val-Val-Ala-Thr-Asp-Ala-Leu-Met-Thr-Gly-Tyr-Thr-Gly-Asp-Phe-Asp-Ser-Val-Ile-Asp-Cys-Asn-Val-Ala-Val, (PepC; SEQ ID NO:12), as well as analogs, segments, polymers and mixtures thereof.

The branched peptides are represented by the formula

[peptide].sub.2 X [peptide].sub.4 X.sub.2 X [peptide].sub.8 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X [peptide].sub.16 X.sub.8 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X where X is an amino acid or an amino acid analog having two amino groups and one carboxyl group with each group being capable of forming a peptide bond linkage, and where the peptide moiety, i.e., [peptide], comprises at least one epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with antibodies against HCV. The peptide moiety further comprises at least one cluster of from about 3 to about 20 contiguous amino acids from the sequences: Glu-Ile-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Gln-Ala-Leu-Pro-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Pro-Pro-Leu-Val-Glu-Thr-Trp-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Pro-Val-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Lys-Ser-Pro-Pro-Val-Pro-Pro-Pro-Arg-Lys-Lys-Arg-Thr, (Pep11; SEQ ID NO:20), Glu-Ile-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ile-Pro-Leu-Glu-Val-Ile-Lys-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Leu-Ile-Phe-Cys-His-Ser-Lys-Lys-Lys-Cys-Asp-Glu-Leu-Ala-Ala-Lys-Leu-Val-Ala-Leu, (Pep18; SEQ ID NO:21), Ser-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Ile-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu, (IIH; SEQ ID NO:22), Ser-Thr-Ile-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gln-Ile-Val-Gly-Gly-Val-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Ala-Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg, (VIIIE; SEQ ID NO:23), Ala-Leu-Ser-Thr-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ile-Pro-Leu-Glu-Val-Ile-Lys-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Leu-Ile-Phe-Cys-His-Ser-Lys-Lys-Lys-Cys-Asp-Glu-Leu-Ala-Ala-Lys-Leu-Val-Ala-Leu-Gly-Ile-Asn-Ala-Val-Ala-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Asp-Val-Ser-Val-Ile-Pro-Thr-Ser-Gly-Asp-Val-Val-Val-Val-Ala-Thr-Asp-Ala-Leu-Met-Thr-Gly-Tyr-Thr-Gly-Asp-Phe-Asp-Ser-Val-Ile-Asp-Cys-Asn-Thr-Cys-Val, (PepB), Ala-Leu-Gly-His-Glu-Gly-Glu-Ile-Pro-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ile-Pro-Leu-Ala-Phe-Ile-Lys-Gly-Gly-Arg-His-Leu-Ile-Phe-Cys-His-Ser-Lys-Lys-Lys-Cys-Asp-Glu-Leu-Ala-Ala-Ala-Leu-Arg-Gly-Met-Gly-Val-Asn-Ala-Val-Ala-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Asp-Val-Ser-Val-Ile-Pro-Thr-Gln-Gly-Asp-Val-Val-Val-Val-Ala-Thr-Asp-Ala-Leu-Met-Thr-Gly-Tyr-Thr-Gly-Asp-Phe-Asp-Ser-Val-Ile-Asp-Cys-Asn-Val-Ala-Val, (PepC), or a sequence corresponding to one of these sequences which is from a corresponding region in a strain or isolate of HCV. Moreover, when the peptide moiety comprises two or more clusters, the clusters are joined by a linking group or when the clusters each have a sequence from a different one of the above sequences, then the clusters can be joined directly or joined by a linking group.

When the peptide moiety contains sequences from different ones of the above sequences, such peptides are referred to as hybrid peptides. Hybrid peptides can but do not necessarily contain clusters. Clusters in hybrid peptides can be joined directly or by linking groups. In the hybrid peptides, the length of contiguous amino acids from each of the sequences can be up to about 60 residues.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of detecting antibodies to HCV or diagnosis of HCV infection or NANBH by using an immunoeffective amount of the subject peptide composition in an immunoassay procedure, and particularly in an ELISA procedure, or a passive hemagglutination (PHA) assay. Immunoassays and kits for the detection and diagnosis of NANBH and HCV infection are also provided.

Yet another aspect of this invention provides vaccines using the subject branched hybrid and cluster peptides or peptide compositions as immunogens to prevent or therapeutically treat NANBH or HCV infection. A method of preventing or treating NANBH or HCV infection using these vaccine compositions is also provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, extensive serological analysis has led to the refinement and further definition of immunoreactive peptides that are useful in the detection and diagnosis of NANBH and HCV infection. This analysis has established that effective diagnostic peptides for NANBH or HCV infection include linear as well as branched peptides from NS3. The peptides, optionally branched, can be hybrids of peptides containing one or more HCV epitopes from different peptides, referred to herein as hybrid peptides. Further, the peptides of this invention also include those peptides having at least one epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with antibodies against HCV and having a peptide moiety which comprises one or more clusters of about 3 to about 20 contiguous amino acids from the peptides designated as Pep3, Pep8, Pep11, Pep18, Pep25, IIH, IIID, V, VIIIE, PepA, PepB, PepC or a homologous peptide from a corresponding region in another strain or isolate of HCV. The amino acid sequences of the peptides designated as Pep3, Pep8, Pep25, IIID, V, and PepA are provided in U.S. Ser. No. 946,054, filed Sep. 15, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, when the peptide moiety of these peptides, also referred to herein as cluster peptides, contain two or more clusters, then the clusters are joined by a linking group. The linking group consists of, but is not limited to, one or more naturally occurring amino acids, one or more unnatural amino acids, or one or more amino acid analogues which can form peptidyl bonds (or peptidyl-like bonds) and are stable to the conditions employed during peptide synthesis. In the case of hybrid peptides that contain clusters, the clusters can be joined directly or can be joined by a linking group.

In addition the linear peptides of NS3 can be modified to consist of the peptide moieties of the hybrid peptides or the cluster peptides as herein defined.

The sequences of the peptides subjected to detailed serological analysis, and from which the peptide moieties of the subject linear and branched peptides are derived, are set forth below: ##STR1## or a homologous peptide from the corresponding region in another strain or isolate of HCV, wherein X is --OH or --NH.sub.2, and analogues and segments of these peptides.

As used herein a linear peptide has about 50 to about 100 amino acids, preferably about 60 to about 90 amino acids, and more preferably about 75 to about 90 amino acids. The linear peptides can contain clusters of HCV sequences as defined herein provided such peptides retain specific immunoreactivity with HCV antibodies.

As used herein a "cluster" is a sequence from 3 to about 20 contiguous amino acids from one of the peptide sequences described herein or an analog or segment thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a cluster has a sequence of 3 to 9 contiguous amino acids.

The linear, the branched hybrid and the cluster peptides of the present invention including their analogues and segments are useful for the detection of antibodies to HCV in body fluids, the diagnosis of NANBH, and for the vaccination of healthy mammals, particularly humans, to stimulate the production of antibodies to HCV, including neutralizing or protective antibodies.

The subject linear and branched peptides can comprise combinations or segments, i.e., longer or shorter peptide chains by having more amino acids, including unnatural amino acids, added to the terminal amino acids, or by having amino acids removed from either terminal end. For example, the sequence KKK (Lys-Lys-Lys) can be added to the amino terminus of any of these peptides. For branched peptides, an M (methionine) residue can be placed at the carboxy terminus of the peptide moiety, i.e. between the peptide moiety and the branch structure.

As used herein "segments" means a shorter region of a parent peptide which retains an epitope effective in detecting NANBH-associated antibodies. For example, L1A is a segment of PepB, its parent peptide. A segment can be derived from either end of its parent peptide or from an internal sequence of its parent peptide.

The subject branched peptides can also comprise analogues to accommodate strain-to-strain variation among different isolates of HCV or other substitutions in the prescribed sequences which do not affect immunogenicity of the epitope. HCV is indicated to have frequent mutations. Several variant strains/isolates are known to exist, such as PT, J, J1 and J4 [Houghton, 1989; Okamoto, 1990; Houghton, 1990; and Karo, 1990] and it is expected that other variant strains also exist. Adjustments for conservative substitutions and selection among the alternatives where non-conservative substitutions are involved, can be made in the prescribed sequences. The analogues of the linear and branched synthetic peptides, especially the hybrid peptides, can therefore comprise substitutions, insertions and/or deletions of the recited amino acids of the above sequence to accommodate the various strains, as long as the immunoreactivity recognizable by the antibodies to HCV is preserved. In addition, the substitutions, insertions, and deletions in analogues need not be encoded by other HCV strains provided that such changes produce peptides which preserve immunoreactivity with HCV. The substitutions and insertions can be accomplished with naturally-occurring amino acids, unnatural amino acids or amino acid analogues capable of forming peptidyl bonds or peptide-like bonds (e.g., peptide thiol analogues). Analog peptides in accordance with this invention are synthesized and tested against an HCV serum panel to determine the immunoreactivity of the peptide as described hereinbelow.

Further, with appropriate amino acid modification or substitutions, it is expected that various peptide analogues based on the prescribed amino acid sequences can be synthesized with properties giving rise to lower background readings or better binding capacity to solid phases useful for HCV antibody screening assays. In particular, peptides containing unnatural amino acids can significantly reduce background readings.

The subject linear or branched peptides can also be used to form conjugates, i.e., the peptides can be coupled directly or indirectly, by methods known in the art, to carrier proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA), or to red blood cells or latex particles.

As used herein, natural amino acids are the 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins (i.e. alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine, glutamic acid, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, tryptophan and valine). As used herein the natural amino acids also include the D- and L- forms of such amino acids.

As used herein "unnatural amino acids" include both D- and L- forms of any other amino acids whether found in a protein, whether found in nature or whether synthetically produced. Unnatural amino acids can include, but are not limited to, .beta.-alanine, ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, thyroxine, gamma-amino butyric acid, homoserine, citrulline and the like.

The linear peptides of this invention are represented by the formula

[peptide]'Y wherein Y is --OH or --NH.sub.2, and include analogues, segments, mixtures, conjugates and polymers of these linear peptides. The peptides comprise at least one epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with antibodies against HCV. Furthermore, the peptide moiety of the linear peptides can be defined as set forth below for the peptide moiety of the branched peptides, i.e. the linear peptides can contain clusters or hybrids of HCV epitopes.

The branched peptides of the present invention are represented by one of the formulae:

[peptide].sub.2 X [peptide].sub.4 X.sub.2 X [peptide].sub.8 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X [peptide].sub.16 X.sub.8 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X wherein X is an amino acid or an amino acid analog having two amino groups and one carboxyl group, each group capable of forming a peptide bond linkage. Preferably X is lysine or a lysine analog such as ornithine. The amino acid analog can be an .alpha.-amino acid, a .beta.-amino acid, or any other either natural or non-natural amino acid with two amino groups and one carboxyl group available for forming peptide bonds. Preferred branched peptides of the invention are dimers, tetramers and octamers, especially those having a branching core structure composed of lysine, i.e. where X is lysine. Branched dimers are especially preferred.

The peptide moiety of the branched peptides can vary in length from about 10 to about 100 amino acids residues. Preferably the peptide moieties contain about 17 to about 60 amino acid residues. Moreover, the hybrid and cluster peptide moieties can be optimized to the minimal overall length necessary to contain an epitope effective in detecting NANBH-associated antibodies yet still retain the superior sensitivity and selectivity of the present invention.

The preferred peptides of the present invention are provided in Table 1. The source of each peptide is provided in Table 2.

TABLE 1 - PEPTIDES.sup.a,b,c HYBRID PEPTIDES WITH OR WITHOUT CLUSTERS 3KH8 KKKSGKPTIIPDREvLYREFDDMEDCSQHLPYzDQGMMLAENFKQKAVGLVKFPGGGNI--DIM CLUSTER PEPTIDES (LINEAR OR BRANCHED) C6C PLvETWKKPEYEPPVVH--DIM 3KC10C KKKIPKPNoKTKRNTQRRPNDvKFPGGGNIvGGVYLVPRRGPRzGLRATRKTTERSQpRGRR--D IM C11 PLvETWKKPEYEPPVvHGCPLPPpKSPPVPPpRKKRT--DIM C12 KAvPLEvVKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYT GDFDSVIDCNTCV--NH C13 GRHLIvCHTKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCN TCV--NH C14A KAvPLEvVKGGRHLIvCHTKKKCDEzAAKLvALGINAvAYYRGLDvSVIPTSGEVVvVATDAzMTGY TGEFDSvIDCNTCV--NH 3KC14B KKKKAvPLEvVKGGRHLIvCHTKKKCDEzAAKLvALGINAvAYYRGLDvSVIPTSGEVVvVATDA zMTGYTGEFDSvIDCNTCV--DIM LINEAR PEPTIDES L1A KKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNTCV--NH L1B GRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDC NTCV--NH L1C KAIPLEVIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYT GDFDSVIDCNTCV--NH L1D ALSTTGEIPFYGKAIPLEVIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVV VVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNTCV--NH 3KL1C KKKKAIPLEVIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDAL MTGYTGDFDSVIDCNTCV--NH L2A KKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVDCNVAV--NH L2B GRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTQGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVI DCNVAV--NH L2C KAIPLAFIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTQGDVVVVATDALMTGYT GDFDSVIDCNVAV--NH L2D ALGHEGEIPFYGKAIPLAFIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTQGDVV VVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNVAV--NH L3A KKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTQGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNVCV--NH L3B GRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTQGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVDCN VCV--NH L3C KAIPLAFIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAALRGMGVNAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTQGDVVVVATDALMTGYT GDFDSVIDCNVCV--NH L4A KKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYKGLDVSVIPTSGDTDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDC--NH L4B GKHLIFCSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYKGLDVSVIPTSGDTDALMTGYTGDFDSVDC--NH L4C KAIPLEVIKGGKHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYKGLDVSVIPTSGDTDALMTGYTGD FDSVDC--NH 3KL4C KKKAIPLEVIKGGKLIFCHKKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYKGLDVSVIPTSGDTDALMTGYTGDF DSVIDC--NH .sup.a Abbreviations: The amino acid sequences are provided in one letter code except that unnatural amino acids are indicated by: v, norvaline; z, norleucine; p, hydroxyproline; o, ornithine. Other abbreviations are DIM, lysine dimer; OCT, lysine octamer. .sup.b For branched peptides, the branched core is composed of lysine residues, e.g., 1 Lysine for dimer peptides (DIM) and 7 Lysines for octamer peptides (OCT). .sup.c The sequences Lsiting for these peptides are set forth: C12, SEO I NO:l; C13, SEO ID NO:2; C14A, SEO ID NO 3; LlA, SEQ ID NO 4; LlB, SEG ID NO 5; LlC, SEO ID NO 6; LlD, SEO ID NO 7; 3KL1C, SEQ ID NO 8; L2A, SEQ ID NO 9; L2B, SEQ ID NO 10; L2C, SEQ ID NO 11; L2D, SEQ ID NO 12; L3A, SEQ I NO 13; L38, SEO ID NO 14; L3C, SEQ ID NO 15; L4A, SEQ ID NO 16; L4B, SEQ ID NO 17; L4C, SEQ ID NO 18; and 3KL4C, SEQ ID NO 19. TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________SOURCE OF HYBRID AND CLUSTER BRANCHED PEPTIDESSource Peptide Peptides from Table 1__________________________________________________________________________Pep11 C6C, C11VIIIE 3KC10CIIH + VIIIE 3KH8PepB L1A, L1B, L1C, L1D, 3KL1C, L4A, L4B, L4C, 3KL4C, C12, C13, C14A, 3KC14BPepC L2A, L2B, L2C, L2D, L3A, L3B, L3C__________________________________________________________________________

The peptide compositions of the present invention can be composed of one or more of the linear peptides (with or without hybrids or clusters), the branched hybrid peptides, the branched cluster peptides or any combination of such peptides. Preferably such compositions contain from one to 10 peptides, and even more preferably from one to four peptides.

In a preferred embodiment, the peptide compositions of the present invention include peptides L1C, 3KL1C, L2C, L3A, 3KL4C and C12, from PepB and PepC, and more preferably peptides L1C, 3KL1C and C12. Peptide 3KL1C is particularly useful in PHA immunoassays for detection of HCV antibodies. Other preferred peptides of the invention include peptides C6C, 3KC10C, C11 and 3KH8.

Moreover, the peptide compositions of the present invention include mixtures of peptides. The effective ratio of peptides for diagnosing or detecting NANBH or HCV present in peptide compositions containing mixtures of the subject peptides can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. Typically, these ratios range from about 1 to about 50 on a per weight basis of peptide.

A preferred peptide composition for diagnosis and detection of NANBH or HCV infection is a mixture of peptides 3KC10C dimer, C11 dimer, C12 linear and 3KH8 dimer in a weight ratio of 1:1:3:2.

To determine the efficacy of the subject peptides in detecting and diagnosing NANBH and HCV infection, the peptides are tested for their immunoreactivity with specimens previously selected through the screening of thousands of patient and normal sera for immunoreactivity with HCV. Such serum panels are commercially available and examples thereof are provided in the Examples.

The strategy for serological validation depends on the expected characteristics of the target epitopes. For example, universal immunodominant epitopes, such as the gp41 transmembrane peptide of HIV-1, can be screened by a single representative serum sample from a patient known to be infected with the virus. Epitopes that are not recognized by all infected individuals, or those for which antibody is produced late or only transiently, and especially epitopes which give rise to neutralizing antibodies, must be screened by large panels of sera. While both methods of screening can be employed in the present invention to refine the epitope analysis of HCV using the subject peptides, the latter method is particularly useful in assessing the subject peptides for superior selectivity and sensitivity.

The identification of the immunoreactive epitopes is also dependent on the panel of sera used. The more closely the panel represents the population most likely to be seropositive for an epitope, the greater the chance that the epitope will be identified and thoroughly mapped. Hence, to extend the range of reactivity of an assay comprised of previously identified epitopes, a large number of samples from individuals at risk of infection but seronegative against known epitopes should be employed for screening.

The process of "serological validation" is particularly difficult when the epitopes to be identified elicit antibodies only in a subpopulation of an infected patient group. When such epitopes become targets for identification, special attention must be paid to synthetic peptides which show very weak reactivity when tested by an enzyme immunoassay or any other immunological testing method.

In this regard, the low background absorbance of synthetic peptides, especially peptides with unnatural amino acids, allows for the precise detection of weak reactivities. In some cases, absorbances of 50 mA versus background reading are of sufficient significance and can lead to the identification of important epitopes through successive refinement of the amino acid sequence of a peptide. With good laboratory practices, consistent and reliable results can be obtained when working in the range of absorbances below 200-300 mA.

To identify highly immunoreactive HCV NS-3 peptides, more than 135 overlapping peptides with lengths from 12 to over 100 residues have been designed, synthesized and tested with a special panel of sera from patients with PT-NANBH (post-transfusion NANBH), including sera from early stages of HCV infection. Among the NS-3 peptides tested, only three long peptides, L1D, L2D and substitution analogue C12, and their related shorter segments, particularly those corresponding to L1B and L1C, were found to possess significant HCV immunoreactivity.

Through extensive serological analysis, using L1D as an example, a stretch of 15 amino acids with a sequence of YTGDFDSVIDCNTCV (amino acids 79 to 93 of SEQ ID NO:7) located at the C-terminus of L1D contains sequences that are important to the formation of a conformational epitope along with the rest of the peptide structure. At the N-terminus, a stretch of at least 10 amino acids with a sequence of KAIPLEVIKG (amino acids 13 to 22 of SEQ ID NO:7) enhances the immunoreactivity of the peptides, whereas the next 9 amino acids (GRHLIFCHS; amino acids 23 to 31 of SEQ ID NO:7) greatly enhances such immunoreactivity. Additional amino acids at the N-terminus such as ALSTTGEIPFYG (amino acids 1 to 12 of SEQ ID NO:7), though contributing to the stabilization of the conformational epitope, are optional. Moreover, certain amino acid substitutions made in this region as shown in peptide C12 do not necessarily diminish immunoreactivity. The NS-3 peptides of the present invention represent a protein structural framework which maintains the conformation of the much larger NS-3 protein and therefore forms a functional domain of NS-3. For example, cleavage at the mid-point of this domain destroys the structure and results in the loss of HCV immunoreactivity as shown in Example 2. However, when the structure of the functional domain is preserved, addition of amino acid residues at either the N- or C-terminus does not interfere with inherent immunoreactivity of the NS-3 derived peptides of this invention.

Based on the immunoreactivities of the peptides of the present invention, the subject peptides are also useful in a vaccine composition to treat or prevent NANBH or HCV infection. The peptides, alone or when coupled to a carrier or polymerized to homo or hetero dimers or higher oligomers by cysteine oxidation, by induced disulfide cross-linking, or by use of homo or hetero functional multivalent cross-linking reagents, can be introduced into normal subjects to stimulate production of antibodies to HCV in healthy mammals. Similarly the subject peptides can be formulated in a vaccine composition using adjuvants, pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers or other ingredients routinely provided in vaccine compositions. Such formulations are readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art and include formulations for immediate release and for sustained release, e.g., microencapsulation. The present vaccines can be administered by any convenient route including subcutaneous, oral, intramuscular, intravenous, or other parenteral or enteral route. Similarly the vaccines can be administered as a single dose or divided into multiple doses for administration.

The vaccine compositions of the instant invention contain an immunoeffective amount of the subject peptides to treat or prevent NANBH or HCV infection. Such compositions in dosage unit form can contain about 0.1 .mu.g to about 1 mg of the peptide (or mixture of peptides) per kg body weight. When delivered in multiple doses, the dosage unit form is conveniently divided into the appropriate amounts per dosage.

The advantages of using synthetic peptides are known. Since the peptides are not derived biologically from the virus, there is no danger of exposing the normal subjects who are to be vaccinated to the disease causing pathogen. The peptides can be readily synthesized using standard techniques, such as the Merrifield method of synthesis [Merrifield (1963) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149-2154]. Hence, there is no involvement with HCV at any time during the process of making the test reagent or the vaccine. Another problem which can be minimized by using peptides rather than recombinantly expressed proteins (or peptides) is the rate of false positive results caused by the presence of antigenic material co-purified with the HCV fusion protein. For example, certain normal individuals have antibodies to Escherichia coli or yeast proteins which are cross reactive with the antigenic materials from the expression system used in recombinant-based diagnostic tests. Sera from such normal individuals show a false positive reaction in such immunoassays which is eliminated in immunoassays of the present invention.

Moreover, because the peptide compositions of the present invention are synthetically prepared, the quality can be controlled and as a result, reproducibility of the test results can be assured. Also, since very small amounts of a peptide are required for each test procedure, and because the expense of preparing a peptide is relatively low, the cost of screening body fluids for antibodies to HCV, diagnosis of NANBH infection, and the preparation of a vaccine is relatively low.

The peptides and peptide compositions prepared in accordance with the present invention can be used to detect HCV infection and diagnose NANBH by using them as the test reagent in an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA), an enzyme immunodot assay, a passive hemagglutination assay (e.g., PHA test) or other well-known immunoassays. In accordance with the present invention, any suitable immunoassay can be used with the subject peptides. Such techniques are well known to the ordinarily skilled artisan and have been described in many standard immunology manuals and texts, see for example, by Harlow et al. (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 726 pp. In a preferred embodiment, the immunoassay is an ELISA using a solid phase coated with the peptide compositions of the present invention. ELISA techniques are well known in the art. In another preferred embodiment the immunoassay is a PHA assay.

The immunoassays of the present invention are used to screen body fluids and tissues for the presence of NANBH or HCV and thereby to detect such agents and aid the practitioner in diagnosis of NANBH or HCV infection. The body fluids which can be subjected to such screening include blood and blood fractions (e.g. serum), saliva, or any other fluid which contains antibodies against HCV.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a kit for the detection and diagnosis of NANBH or HCV infection in mammalian body fluids (e.g. serum, tissue extracts, tissue fluids), in vitro cell culture supernatants, and cell lysates. The kit can be compartmentalized to receive a first container adapted to contain one or more of the peptides (i.e. a peptide composition) of this invention.

Preferably the kit of this invention is an ELISA or a PHA test kit for detection or diagnosis of NANBH or HCV infection. For an ELISA test kit, the kit contains (a) a container (e.g., a 96-well plate) having a solid phase coated with one of the subject peptide compositions; (b) a negative control sample; (c) a positive control sample; (d) specimen diluent and (e) antibodies to human IgG, which antibodies are labelled with a reporter molecule. If the reporter molecule is an enzyme, then the kit also contains a substrate for said enzyme.

In an exemplified use of the subject kit, a sample to be tested is contacted with a mammalian body fluid, diluted in sample diluent if necessary, for a time and under conditions for any antibodies, if present, to bind to the peptide contained in the container. After removal of unbound material (e.g. by washing with sterile phosphate buffered saline), the secondary complex is contacted with labelled antibodies to human IgG. These antibodies bind to the secondary complex to form a tertiary complex and, since the second antibodies are labeled with a reporter molecule, when subjected to a detecting means, the tertiary complex is detected. The reporter molecule can be an enzyme, radioisotope, fluorophore, bioluminescent molecule, chemiluminescent molecule, biotin, avidin, streptavidin or the like. For ELISA the reporter is preferably an enzyme.

The examples serve to illustrate the present invention and are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

ELISA Assay Method

The wells of 96-well plates were coated separately for 1 hour at 37.degree. with 5 .mu.g/ml of peptide using 100 .mu.L per well in 10 mM NaHCO.sub.3 buffer, pH 9.5 unless noted otherwise.

The peptide-coated wells were incubated with 250 .mu.L of 3% by weight of gelatin in PBS in 37.degree. C. for 1 hour to block non-specific protein binding sites, followed by three washes with PBS containing 0.05% by volume of TWEEN 20 and dried. The test specimens containing HCV antibody positive patient sera were diluted 1:20 volume to volume with PBS containing 20% by volume normal goat serum, 1% by weight gelatin and 0.05% by volume TWEEN 20. 200 .mu.L of the diluted specimens were added to each of the wells and allowed to react for 15 minutes at 37.degree. C.

The wells were then washed six times with 0.05% by volume TWEEN 20 in PBS in order to remove unbound antibodies. Horseradish peroxidase conjugated goat anti-human IgG was used as a second antibody tracer to bind with the HCV antibody-peptide antigen complex formed in positive wells. 100 .mu.L of peroxidase labeled goat anti-human IgG at a dilution of 1:1800 in 1% by volume normal goat serum, 0.05% by volume TWEEN 20 in PBS was added to each well and incubated at 37.degree. C. for another 15 minutes.

The wells were washed six times with 0.05% by volume TWEEN 20 PBS to remove unbound antibody and reacted with 100 .mu.L of the substrate mixture containing 0.04% by weight orthophenylenediamine (OPD) and 0.12% by volume hydrogen peroxide in sodium citrate buffer, pH 5.0. This substrate mixture was used to detect the peroxidase label by forming a colored product. Reactions were stopped by the addition of 100 .mu.L of 1.0M H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and the A.sub.492 nm measured.

EXAMPLE 2

NS-3 Epitope Mapping

Extensive serological analysis was used to locate useful epitopes in NS-3. One example establishing the importance of length in an NS-3 epitope is illustrated with peptides L1C, T5 series, T6 series, T7 and T8. L1C is an 81-mer containing the reactive epitope. The T5 and T6 series peptides which are non-reactive with HCV sera consist of a maximum of 39 amino and 45 carboxy terminal residues of L1C, respectively. Peptides T7 and T8 which are also non-reactive span the central 47 and 25 amino acids of L1C, respectively. The sequence of L1C is provided in Table 1. The remaining sequences are:

__________________________________________________________________________T5A, LIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVAL--NHT5B, KGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVAL--NHT5C, AIPLEVIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVAL--NHT5D, EIPFYGKAIPLEVIKGGRHLIFCHSKKKCDELAAKLVAL--NHT6A, DVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNTC--NHT6B, DVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNTC--NHT6C, NAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTGYTGDFDSVIDCNTC--NHT7, KKKCDELAAKLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSGDVVVVATDALMTG--NHT8, KLVALGINAVAYYRGLDVSVIPTSG--NH__________________________________________________________________________

The immunoreactivity of these peptides was tested as described in Example 1 against a panel of commercially available sera from HCV patients known to have reactivity against the NS-3 protein as determined primarily by recombinant immunoblotting analysis (RIBA, trademark). The results shown in Table 3 indicate that none of the T5, T6, T7 or T8 peptides are reactive with such sera, whereas L1C, spanning that region is strongly reactive. Similar results have been obtained with a large number of sera from HCV patients.

TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________Absorbence at 492 nm.sup.aSample T5A T5B T5C T5D T6A T6B T6D T7 T8 L1C__________________________________________________________________________1 0.017 0.041 0.025 0.166 0.013 0.019 0.018 -- -- 0.7404 0.006 0.008 0.008 0.040 0.005 0.006 0.012 -- -- 0.2306 0.007 0.008 0.008 0.024 0.013 0.064 0.086 -- -- 2.1047 0.062 0.069 0.031 0.015 0.093 0.025 0.017 -- -- 1.9738 0.033 0.019 0.046 0.250 0.055 0.026 0.026 0.287 -- 2.599A -- -- -- 0.029 -- -- 0.016 0.017 0.200 2.288B -- -- -- 0.299 -- -- 0.080 -- 0.031 1.809__________________________________________________________________________ .sup.a "--" indicates the sample was not tested.

EXAMPLE 3

NS-3 epitopes Detected by L1C on Seroconversion Panels

The peptide L1C was used to evaluate its ability to detect HCV antibodies on two seronconversion panels known for immunoreactivity with NS-3 and derived from blood trasnfusion recipients who subsequently contracted NANBH from an HCV-positive donor. The RIBA HCV test system, 2nd generation (Chiron Corporation) assays were conducted according to manufacturer's instructions and L1C peptide assays were conducted as described in Example 1.

Both seroconversion panels contain samples that were found to have specific antibodies to HCV NS-3 protein as determine by RIBA and shown in Table 4. The L1C peptide specifically detected NS-3 antibodies at 105 and 181 days post transfusion (Table 4). These results are independent of whether the recipient had acute or chronic NANBH. Accordingly, L1C provides a sensitive probe for detection of NS-3 antibodies in PT-NANBH patients.

TABLE 4______________________________________Elapsed RIBAII.sup.a L1CSample Days 5-1-1 C100-3 c33c c22-3 Abs.sup.b______________________________________HCV Pos. Donor - +2 +3 +4 NDPatient 1 -3 ND(Acute) 105 - - +3 - 1.231 165 +1 +3 +4 - 2.195 546 +/- +/- +3 - 0.613Patient 2 0 ND(Chronic) 103 0.086 181 1.013 307 - - +3 - 1.591______________________________________ .sup.a "-" negative; "+", positive; ".+-.", indeterminate. Samples which were not tested are left blank. .sup.b Absorbance at 492 nm. ND, not determined.

EXAMPLE 4

Serological Analysis of PepB- and PepC-Derived Peptides

To assess relative immunoreactivity with a panel of known NS-3-reactive patient sera, ELISA assays were conducted as described in Example 1 for the NS-3 peptides listed in Table 1 (i.e., excluding peptides C6C, 3KC10C, C11 and 3KH8). The results shown in Table 5 indicate that all the tested peptides exhibited substantial immunoreactivity.

TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________Sample L1A* L1B L1C 3KL1C L1D L2A L2B__________________________________________________________________________Blank 0.048 0.056 0.048 0.051 0.047 0.048 0.048NRC 0.030 0.035 0.030 0.039 0.024 0.108 0.156__________________________________________________________________________HCV 3-1 2.264 2.392 2.649 2.626 1.531 0.058 0.559HCV 3-5 0.146 0.419 1.457 2.424 0.271 0.084 0.925HCV 3-13 0.904 2.200 2.270 2.504 1.137 0.218 0.858HCV 3-14 0.303 0.261 1.542 2.347 0.275 0.309 0.862HCV 3-16 0.227 0.230 1.498 2.402 0.179 0.124 1.615HCV 3-17 0.677 0.842 1.754 2.559 0.427 0.333 2.089HCV 3-19 0.325 0.293 1.725 2.514 0.279 0.097 1.279HCV 3-20 1.618 2.428 2.394 2.724 1.862 0.125 2.205HCV 3-21 1.933 2.480 2.675 2.357 2.036 0.430 2.503HCV 3-24 1.807 2.554 2.513 2.812 1.100 0.856 0.799HCV 3-25 0.673 1.534 1.640 2.325 0.398 0.049 0.434HCV 3-28 1.850 2.400 2.870 2.927 1.481 0.079 1.187HCV 3-29 1.129 1.856 2.354 2.549 1.413 0.064 0.911HCV 3-30 1.279 2.288 2.833 2.461 1.801 0.750 1.969HCV 3-34 -- 0.335 0.988 1.505 -- -- --HCV 3-38 1.722 2.091 2.448 2.382 1.390 0.092 1.507HCV 3-39 1.098 1.900 2.245 2.384 0.564 0.055 0.641HCV 3-40 1.695 2.401 2.476 2.703 1.495 0.115 1.611HCV 3-41 1.439 2.350 2.426 2.405 1.215 0.170 1.484__________________________________________________________________________Sample L2C L2D L3A L3B L3C L4A L4B__________________________________________________________________________Blank 0.048 0.048 0.056 0.06 0.05 0.053 0.061NRC 0.149 0.174 0.090 0.03 0.037 0.026 0.017__________________________________________________________________________HCV 3-1 1.441 1.689 0.187 0.194 0.887 0.690 2.214HCV 3-5 0.441 0.549 1.008 0.139 0.077 0.086 0.049HCV 3-13 1.089 1.375 2.099 0.232 0.399 0.195 0.065HCV 3-14 0.504 0.599 1.831 0.356 0.186 0.174 0.098HCV 3-16 0.416 0.745 2.200 0.338 0.201 0.143 0.035HCV 3-17 1.007 1.143 2.520 1.272 0.535 0.275 0.150HCV 3-19 1.364 1.430 1.961 0.238 0.747 0.104 0.048HCV 3-20 2.364 2.258 2.333 1.544 1.653 0.347 0.150HCV 3-21 2.499 2.585 2.029 2.177 2.157 0.224 0.077HCV 3-24 1.525 1.872 2.639 1.396 0.718 2.220 2.316HCV 3-25 0.068 0.163 1.712 0.216 0.041 0.121 0.255HCV 3-28 2.286 2.160 2.177 0.486 1.592 0.879 1.790HCV 3-29 0.173 0.409 1.997 0.517 0.060 0.218 0.270HCV 3-30 1.980 2.183 2.484 0.532 1.133 0.207 0.419HCV 3-34 -- -- -- 0.243 0.117 0.056 0.013HCV 3-38 1.829 2.024 1.403 0.875 1.189 1.278 1.432HCV 3-39 0.157 0.296 1.575 0.436 0.097 0.365 0.790HCV 3-40 1.093 1.147 2.374 0.963 0.719 0.414 1.373HCV 3-41 0.465 0.983 2.882 0.788 0.507 0.648 1.536__________________________________________________________________________Sample L4C 3KL4C C12 C13 C14A 3KC14B__________________________________________________________________________Blank 0.056 0.063 0.055 0.055 0.054 0.05NRC 0.026 0.016 0.046 0.037 0.031 0.03__________________________________________________________________________HCV 3-1 2.634 2.721 2.882 2.667 2.369 1.972HCV 3-5 0.031 1.330 2.183 1.094 0.043 0.316HCV 3-13 0.142 1.957 2.592 2.490 0.668 0.683HCV 3-14 0.048 1.785 2.784 0.225 0.082 0.673HCV 3-16 0.022 2.189 2.305 0.194 0.409 0.862HCV 3-17 0.132 2.476 2.758 1.148 0.124 1.718HCV 3-19 0.022 1.804 2.289 0.337 0.050 0.529HCV 3-20 0.827 2.483 2.727 2.623 0.541 1.421HCV 3-21 0.043 1.415 2.594 2.599 2.011 1.885HCV 3-24 2.347 2.364 2.807 2.387 1.857 2.281HCV 3-25 1.429 2.369 2.515 2.136 0.162 0.528HCV 3-28 2.633 2.526 2.493 2.800 0.358 0.927HCV 3-29 0.748 2.276 2.535 2.600 0.233 1.028HCV 3-30 1.061 2.427 2.484 2.791 1.356 1.584HCV 3-34 0.014 1.490 1.562 0.714 0.057 0.373HCV 3-38 1.978 2.428 2.156 2.351 1.398 1.524HCV 3-39 2.201 2.367 2.425 1.974 0.130 0.842HCV 3-40 2.746 2.735 2.805 2.512 1.495 2.172HCV 3-41 2.679 2.512 2.885 2.637 1.468 1.864__________________________________________________________________________ *The values given are absorbances at 492 nm. "--" indicates the sample wa not tested.

EXAMPLE 5

Branched Hybrid and Cluster Peptides

The immunoreactivity of branched peptides 3KH8, C6C, 3KC10C and C11 (Table 1) were tested on panel 3 containing 41 known HCV-reactive samples using the ELISA assay format as described in Example 1. Table 6 shows the results for these peptides. Peptide 3KH8 is from the HCV core protein, C6C and C11 are from the NS-5 protein, and 3KC10C is from the NS-4 and core proteins. Each sample (except 6 and 10) was reactive with one or more of the branched peptides.

TABLE 6______________________________________ 3KC10C 3KH8 C6C C11Sample Abs..sup.a Abs. Abs. Abs.______________________________________Blank 0.056 0.053 0.054 0.056NRC 0.024 0.018 0.022 0.193______________________________________HCV Panel 31 over 1.842 1.629 2.5502 0.039 0.813 0.036 0.1113 1.747 0.659 0.042 0.1464 2.438 0.250 0.017 0.1815 2.453 2.219 2.366 2.5726 0.030 0.133 0.046 0.1847 2.499 0.890 1.262 1.9068 1.051 0.863 0.021 0.3349 2.677 0.801 0.051 0.18410 0.013 0.050 0.018 0.05211 2.340 1.998 1.404 2.35912 0.625 0.153 0.026 0.06513 2.092 2.495 0.933 1.39214 1.940 1.893 2.317 2.34215 0.676 0.202 0.057 0.16516 1.266 2.642 2.478 2.67117 1.258 2.595 over over18 2.609 0.883 0.050 0.82419 2.176 2.901 1.704 2.55620 over 2.678 0.208 1.43921 0.178 2.127 over 2.57422 0.424 0.137 0.044 0.11523 1.222 0.879 0.122 0.26124 2.426 2.420 0.361 0.83525 2.472 1.975 2.008 2.44226 2.558 1.256 1.586 2.23327 2.234 1.455 2.473 2.35928 1.931 2.503 2.879 2.70629 2.152 2.003 0.258 1.14330 1.100 2.797 0.083 0.25931 2.264 0.589 0.075 0.25032 0.869 1.683 0.046 0.08033 2.033 2.118 2.591 2.31734 2.366 1.737 0.125 2.63135 0.117 0.155 0.054 0.23936 1.961 2.281 2.347 2.35337 0.031 0.121 0.060 0.11338 2.287 2.252 1.404 1.71539 1.346 1.292 0.551 0.92740 2.372 1.943 2.336 2.58541 2.455 2.366 2.813 2.480______________________________________ .sup.a Absorbances are at 492 nm

EXAMPLE 6

Formulation Study and Detection of NANBH-Associated Antibodies Using a Mixture of Peptides

A mixture of peptides 3KC10C, 3KH8, C11 and C12 was coated on wells of 96-well plates and assayed for HCV antibodies using the ELISA procedure described in Example 1. The sequence of each peptide is provided in Table 1 and the formulations are shown in Table 7. The results from three of these formulations (1, 7 and 8) are reported in Table 8. The most sensitive formulation was obtained at a weight ratio of 1:2:1:3 for 3KC10C:3KH8:C11:C12.

TABLE 7______________________________________Formulations for Peptide MixtureFormula Wt. Ratio.sup.a______________________________________1 1.5:2:1:32 1.5:3:2:33 2:2:1:34 2:2:2:35 2:3:2:36 2:3:1:37 1:2:1:38 1.5:2:0.5:39 1.5:3:0.5:310 1.5:3:1:311 1.5:2:1:512 1.5:2:0.5:5______________________________________ .sup.a Peptides 3KC10C:3KH8:C11:C12 TABLE 8______________________________________ Formula #1 Formula #7 Formula #8Sample Abs Ratio Abs Ratio Abs Ratio______________________________________NRC 0.030 0.41 0.062 0.64 0.043 0.41WRC 0.180 2.46 0.212 2.20 0.260 2.49SRC 0.487 6.67 0.643 6.67 0.695 6.67Cutoff 0.073 0.096 0.104HCV 3-03 2.809 38.45 2.361 24.48 2.359 22.63HCV 3-08 1.052 14.40 1.223 12.86 1.226 11.76HCV 3-12 0.882 12.07 0.969 10.05 1.026 9.84HCV 3-15 0.463 6.34 0.512 5.31 0.796 7.64HCV 3-21 2.783 38.10 2.388 24.76 2.825 27.10HCV 3-22 0.571 7.82 0.661 6.85 0.637 6.11HCV 3-23 1.660 22.72 1.947 20.19 1.909 18.31HCV 3-32 1.798 24.61 2.274 23.58 2.015 19.33HCV 3-35 0.144 1.97 0.244 2.53 0.185 1.77HCV 3-37 0.942 12.90 1.419 14.71 1.168 11.20UBI-01 0.524 7.17 0.776 8.05 0.485 4.65UBI-03 0.145 1.98 0.192 1.99 0.206 1.98UBI-04 0.309 4.23 0.385 3.99 0.445 4.27UBI-05 0.104 1.42 0.234 2.43 0.133 1.28UBI-06 0.169 2.31 0.230 2.38 0.248 2.38UBI-07 0.489 6.69 0.570 5.91 0.616 5.91UBI-11 0.450 6.16 0.635 6.58 0.408 3.91______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________SEQUENCE LISTING(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 23(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 81 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 3(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 7(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:LysAlaXaaProLeuGluXaaValLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIlePhe151015CysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLysLeuValAla202530LeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerVal354045IleProThrSerGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMet505560ThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnThrCys65707580Val(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 71 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 6(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:GlyArgHisLeuIleXaaCysHisThrLysLysLysCysAspGluLeu151015AlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArg202530GlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrSerGlyAspValValValVal354045AlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerVal505560IleAspCysAsnThrCysVal6570(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 81 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 3(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 7(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 16(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 26(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORLEUCINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 31(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 38(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 46(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 57(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 63(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORLEUCINE"(ix) FEATURE:(A) NAME/KEY: Modified-site(B) LOCATION: 74(D) OTHER INFORMATION: /note= "NORVALINE"(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:LysAlaXaaProLeuGluXaaValLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIleXaa151015CysHisThrLysLysLysCysAspGluXaaAlaAlaLysLeuXaaAla202530LeuGlyIleAsnAlaXaaAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspXaaSerVal354045IleProThrSerGlyGluValValXaaValAlaThrAspAlaXaaMet505560ThrGlyTyrThrGlyGluPheAspSerXaaIleAspCysAsnThrCys65707580Val(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 62 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:LysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeuGlyIle151015AsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThr202530SerGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyr354045ThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnThrCysVal505560(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 71 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:GlyArgHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeu151015AlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArg202530GlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrSerGlyAspValValValVal354045AlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerVal505560IleAspCysAsnThrCysVal6570(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 81 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:LysAlaIleProLeuGluValIleLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIlePhe151015CysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLysLeuValAla202530LeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerVal354045IleProThrSerGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMet505560ThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnThrCys65707580Val(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 93 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:AlaLeuSerThrThrGlyGluIleProPheTyrGlyLysAlaIlePro151015LeuGluValIleLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLys202530LysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeuGlyIleAsn354045AlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrSer505560GlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThr65707580GlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnThrCysVal8590(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 84 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:LysLysLysLysAlaIleProLeuGluValIleLysGlyGlyArgHis151015LeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLys202530LeuValAlaLeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAsp354045ValSerValIleProThrSerGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAsp505560AlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCys65707580AsnThrCysVal(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 62 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:LysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuArgGlyMetGlyVal151015AsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThr202530GlnGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyr354045ThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnValAlaVal505560(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 71 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:GlyArgHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeu151015AlaAlaAlaLeuArgGlyMetGlyValAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArg202530GlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrGlnGlyAspValValValVal354045AlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerVal505560IleAspCysAsnValAlaVal6570(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 81 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:LysAlaIleProLeuAlaPheIleLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIlePhe151015CysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuArgGly202530MetGlyValAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerVal354045IleProThrGlnGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMet505560ThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnValAla65707580Val(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 93 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:AlaLeuGlyHisGluGlyGluIleProPheTyrGlyLysAlaIlePro151015LeuAlaPheIleLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLys202530LysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuArgGlyMetGlyValAsn354045AlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrGln505560GlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThr65707580GlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnValAlaVal8590(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 62 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:LysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuArgGlyMetGlyVal151015AsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThr202530GlnGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyr354045ThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnValCysVal505560(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 71 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:GlyArgHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeu151015AlaAlaAlaLeuArgGlyMetGlyValAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArg202530GlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrGlnGlyAspValValValVal354045AlaThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerVal505560IleAspCysAsnValCysVal6570(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 81 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:LysAlaIleProLeuAlaPheIleLysGlyGlyArgHisLeuIlePhe151015CysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaAlaLeuArgGly202530MetGlyValAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrArgGlyLeuAspValSerVal354045IleProThrGlnGlyAspValValValValAlaThrAspAlaLeuMet505560ThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCysAsnValCys65707580Val(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 53 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:LysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeuGlyIle151015AsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrLysGlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThr202530SerGlyAspThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAsp354045SerValIleAspCys50(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 62 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:GlyLysHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeu151015AlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrLys202530GlyLeuAspValSerValIleProThrSerGlyAspThrAspAlaLeu354045MetThrGlyTyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCys505560(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 72 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:LysAlaIleProLeuGluValIleLysGlyGlyLysHisLeuIlePhe151015CysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLysLeuValAla202530LeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrLysGlyLeuAspValSerVal354045IleProThrSerGlyAspThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGlyTyrThrGly505560AspPheAspSerValIleAspCys6570(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 75 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:LysLysLysLysAlaIleProLeuGluValIleLysGlyGlyLysHis151015LeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeuAlaAlaLys202530LeuValAlaLeuGlyIleAsnAlaValAlaTyrTyrLysGlyLeuAsp354045ValSerValIleProThrSerGlyAspThrAspAlaLeuMetThrGly505560TyrThrGlyAspPheAspSerValIleAspCys657075(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 60 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:GluIleLeuArgLysSerArgArgPheAlaGlnAlaLeuProValTrp151015AlaArgProAspTyrAsnProProLeuValGluThrTrpLysLysPro202530AspTyrGluProProValValHisGlyCysProLeuProProProLys354045SerProProValProProProArgLysLysArgThr505560(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 39 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:GluIleProPheTyrGlyLysAlaIleProLeuGluValIleLysGly151015GlyArgHisLeuIlePheCysHisSerLysLysLysCysAspGluLeu202530AlaAlaLysLeuValAlaLeu35(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 47 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:SerGlyLysProAlaIleIleProAspArgGluValLeuTyrArgGlu151015PheAspGluMetGluGluCysSerGlnHisLeuProTyrIleGluGln202530GlyMetMetLeuAlaGluGlnPheLysGlnLysAlaLeuGlyLeu354045(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:(A) LENGTH: 61 amino acids(B) TYPE: amino acid(D) TOPOLOGY: linear(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:SerThrIleProLysProGlnArgLysThrLysArgAsnThrAsnArg151015ArgProGlnAspValLysPheProGlyGlyGlyGlnIleValGlyGly202530ValTyrLeuLeuProArgArgGlyProArgLeuGlyValArgAlaThr354045ArgLysThrSerGluArgSerGlnProArgGlyArgArg505560__________________________________________________________________________

Claims

1. A peptide composition comprising at least one linear or branched peptide represented by the formula

(peptide)--Y

(peptide).sub.2 X

(peptide).sub.4 X.sub.2 X

(peptide).sub.8 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X

(peptide).sub.16 X.sub.8 X.sub.4 X.sub.2 X

wherein (peptide) is a peptide moiety, Y is an OH or NH.sub.2 group on the carbonyl group of the C terminal amino acid of said peptide moiety, X is an amino acid or an amino acid analog having two amino groups and one carboxyl group, each group capable of forming a peptide bond linkage, and

said peptide moiety is specifically immunoreactive with HCV antibodies, wherein said peptide moiety consists of an amino acid sequence of all of or a segment of at least 60 amino acids of L1C or L2C, wherein L1C and L2C have the amino acid sequences, respectively, of SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:11, or of a sequence from a corresponding region in a strain or isolate of HCV.

2. The peptide composition of claim 1 comprising a mixture of two or more of said peptides.

3. The peptide composition of claim 1, wherein said peptide is conjugated to a carrier.

4. The peptide composition of claim 1 wherein said peptide moiety further comprises a segment of one of said sequences.

5. The peptide composition of claim 1 wherein said peptide is linear.

6. The peptide composition of claim 5 wherein said sequence is the sequence designated as L1C.

7. The peptide composition of claim 6 wherein said peptide is L1A, L1B, L1C, 3KL1C, L4A, L4B, L4C, 3KL4C, C12, C13 or C14A.

8. The peptide composition of claim 5, wherein said sequence is the sequence designated as L2C.

9. The peptide composition of claim 8 wherein said peptide is L2A, L2B, L2C, L3A, L3B or L3C.

10. The peptide composition of claim 1, wherein said peptide is a branched dimer.

11. The peptide composition of claim 10, wherein said peptide is 3KC14B.

12. A peptide composition comprising a peptide selected from a group consisting of peptides L1C, 3KL1C, L2C, L3A, 3KL4C, and C12.

13. A peptide composition comprising peptides 3KC10C, C11, C12 and 3KH8.

14. An isolated linear or branched peptide of about 60 amino acids comprising a sequence of amino acids 20 to 77 of SEQ ID NO:6, a sequence of amino acids 20 to 77 of SEQ ID NO:11, or an analog thereof having a sequence from a corresponding region of a strain or isolate of HCV, wherein said peptide is specifically immunoreactive with HCV antibodies.

15. An isolated linear or branched peptide, wherein said peptide is about 70 amino acids and said amino acid sequence is of amino acids 11 to 81 of SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:11.