PROCESS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF PEPTIDES CORRESPONDING TO IMMUNOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT EPITOPES AND THEIR USE IN A PROCESS FOR DETERMINATION OF ANTIBODIES OR BIOTINYLATED PEPTIDES CORRESPONDING TO IMMUNOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT EPITOPES, A PROCESS FOR PREPARING THEM AND COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THEM

Abstract

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes on bacterial and viral proteins, as well as the use of said peptides in diagnostic or immunogenic compositions. The invention relates to a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies, wherein the peptides used are biotinylated, particularly in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated peptides or of avidin-biotinylated peptides.

Description

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes on bacterial and viral proteins, as well as the use of said peptides in diagnostic or immunogenic compositions.

Recent developments in genetic engineering as well as the chemistry of solid phase peptide synthesis have led to the increasingly wider use of synthetic peptides in biochemistry and immunology. Protein sequences which become available as a result of molecular cloning techniques can be synthesized chemically in large quantities for structural, functional, and immunological studies. Peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes found on viral and bacterial proteins have also proven to be highly specific reagents which can be used for antibody detection and the diagnosis of infection.

Despite the many advantages synthetic peptides offer, there are a number of disadvantages associated with their use. Because of their relatively short size (generally less than 50 amino acids in length), their structures may fluctuate between many different conformations in the absence of the stabilizing influence of intramolecular interactions present in the full-length protein. Furthermore, the small size of these peptides means that their chemical properties and solubilities will frequently be quite different from those of the full-length protein and that the contribution of individual amino acids in the peptide sequence toward determining the overall chemical properties of the peptide will be proportionally greater.

Many immunological assays require that the antigen used for antibody detection be immobilized on a solid support. Most enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) make use of polystyrene as the solid phase. Many proteins can be stably adsorbed to the solid phase and present sequences which are accessible for subsequent interactions with antibodies. Because of their small size, direct adsorption of peptides to the solid phase frequently gives rise to unsatisfactory results for any of a number of reasons.

Firstly, the peptide may not possess the correct overall charge or amino acid composition which would enable the peptide to bind to the solid phase. Secondly, the same amino acid residues which are required for binding to the solid phase may also be required for antibody recognition and therefore not available for antibody binding. Thirdly, the peptide may become fixed in an unfavorable conformation upon binding to the solid phase which renders it unrecognizable to antibody molecules. In many cases, it is neither possible nor necessary to distinguish between these possibilities. Binding to the solid phase can be increased and made less sensitive to the specific chemical properties of a peptide by first coupling the peptide to a large carrier molecule. Typically, the carrier molecule is a protein.

While the amount of peptide bound to the solid phase, albeit indirectly, can in some cases be increased by this method, this approach suffers from the fact that the linkage between the peptide and the carrier protein frequently involves the side chains of internal trifunctional amino acids whose integrity may be indispensable for recognition by antibodies. The binding avidity of antisera for the internally modified peptide is frequently very much reduced relative to the unmodified peptide or the native protein.

The production of antisera to synthetic peptide also requires in most cases that the peptide be coupled to a carrier. Again, the coupling reaction between an internal trifunctional amino acid of the peptide and the carrier is likely to alter the immunogenic properties of the peptide.

There exist many methods for performing coupling reactions and most of the procedures in current use are discussed in detail in Van Regenmortel, M. H. V., Briand, J. P., Muller, S., and Plaue, S.; Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, vol. 19, Synthetic Polypeptides as Antigens, Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, New York, Oxford, 1988. In addition to these procedures, unprotected peptides can also be biotinylated using commercially available reagents such as N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin or biotinamidocaproate N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. Many of these reagents are discussed in Billingsley, M. L., Pennypacker, K. R., Hoover, C. G., and Kincaid, R. L., Biotechniques (1987)5(1):22-31. Biotinylated peptides are capable of being bound by the proteins streptavidin and avidin, two proteins which exhibit extraordinarily high affinity binding to biotin.

In certain instances, it is possible to selectively couple biotin to an unprotected peptide or an unprotected peptide to a carrier. This may be accomplished by synthesizing the peptide with an additional trifunctional amino acid added to one of the ends which is capable of participating in the coupling reaction. This approach will only be successful, however, as long as this amino acid is not a critical residue in the immunogenic sequence of interest and as long as the coupling agent chosen is sufficiently selective. No single technique is applicable to all unprotected peptide regardless of their amino acid composition.

The etiological agent responsible for non-A, non-B hepatitis has been identified and termed hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patent application EP-A-0 318 216 discloses sequences corresponding to approximately 80% of the viral genome. The availability of these sequences rapidly led to the elucidation of the remainder of the coding sequences, particularly those located in the 5′ end of the genome (Okamoto; J. Exp. Med. 60, 167-177, 1990). The HCV genome is a linear, positive-stranded RNA molecule with a length of approximately 9400 nucleotides. With the exception of rather short untranslated regions at the termini, the genome consists of one large, uninterrupted, open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of approximately 3000 amino acids. This polyprotein has been shown to be cleaved co-translationally into individual viral structural and non-structural (NS) regions. The structural protein region is further divided into capsi (Core) and envelope (E1 and E2) proteins. The NS regions are divided into NS-1 and NS-5 regions.

A number of independent patent applications have employed a variety of strategies to determine the locations of diagnostically important amino acid sequences and many regions of the HCV polyprotein.

The NS4 region has mainly been studied in EP-A-0 318 216, EP-A-0 442 394, U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,726, EP-A-0 489 986, EP-A-0 484 787, and EP-A-0 445 801. Unfortunately only 70% of HCV-infected individuals produce antibodies to NS4, neither the synthetic nor recombinant proteins containing sequences from this region are adequate for identifying all infected serum samples. The nucleocapsid or Core region has been studied in patent applications EP-A-0 442 394, U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,726, EP-A-0 489 986, EP-A-0 445 801, EP-A-0 451 891 and EP-A-0 479 376. It was found that these peptides often used as mixtures, were more frequently recognized by antibodies (85-90%) in sera from chronically infected individuals than were the peptides derived from NS4. The NS5 region was studied in patent applications EP-A-0 489 986 and EP-A-0 468 527. Depending on the serum panel used, more than 60% of NANB hepatitis can be shown to contain antibodies directed against these peptides. The NS3 region was also studied in patent application EP-A-0 468 527. All available evidence suggests that the most dominant epitope of NS3 are discontinuous in nature and cannot be adequately represented by synthetic peptides. The E1 region which is potentially interesting as a region from the outer surface of the virus particles (possible immunogenic epitopes) was studied in both patent applications EP-A-0 468 527 and EP-A-0 507 615. The E2/NS1 region was studied for the same reason as E1. Comparisons of this region from different HCV variants elucidated that this protein contains variable region which are reminiscent of the HIV V3 loop region of gp120 envelope protein. Four peptides were found in EP-A-0 468 527 which were shown to contain relatively infrequently recognized epitopes. Finally, the NS2 region of HCV was analyzed in EP-A-0 486 527. However, the diagnostic value of this region is not clear yet. Virtually all patent applications concerning diagnostically useful synthetic peptides for antibody detection describe preferred combinations of peptides. Most of these include peptides from the HCV core protein and NS4. In some cases, peptides from NS5 (EP-A-0 489 968 and EP-A-0 468 527), and E1 and E2/NS1 are included (EP-A-0 507 615 and EO-A-0 468 527).

Different patent applications have addressed the problem of finding diagnostically useful epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). An important immunodominant region containing cyclic HIV-1 and HIV-2 peptides was found in patent application EP-A-0 326 490. In EP-A-0 379 949, this region was asserted to be even more reactive with HIV-specific antibodies in case a biotin molecule was coupled to these cyclic HIV peptides. SU-A-161 22 64 also describes the use of a biotinylated peptide in a solid phase immunoassay for the detection of HIV antibodies.

Other applications have looked for useful HIV epitopes in the hypervariable V3 loop region of gp120 (such as EP-A-0 448 095 and EP-A-0 438 332).

U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,071 provides peptide compositions for detection of HTLV I antibodies.

Deciding whether or not an epitope is diagnostically useful is not always straightforward and depends to an extent on the specific configuration of the test into which it is incorporated. It should be ideally an immunodominant epitope which is recognized by a large percentage of true positive sera or should be able to complement other antigens in the test to increase the detection rate. Epitopes which are not frequently recognized may or may not be diagnostically useful depending on the contribution they make towards increasing the detection rate of antibodies in true positive sera and the extent to which incorporation of these epitopes has an adverse effect on the sensitivity of the test due to dilution of other stronger epitopes.

Peptides can thus be used to identify regions of proteins which are specifically recognized by antibodies produced as a result of infection or immunization. In general, there are two strategies which can be followed. One of these strategies has been described by Geysen, H. M., Meloen, R. H., and Bateling, S. J.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1984) 81:3998-4002. This approach involves the synthesis of a large series of short, overlapping peptides on polyethylene rods derivatized with a noncleavable linker such that the entire length of the protein or protein fragment of interest is represented.

The rods are incubated with antisera and antibody binding is detected using an anti-immunoglobulin: enzyme conjugate. A positive reaction immediately identifies the location and sequence of epitopes present in the protein sequence. This technique has the advantage that all peptides are uniformly linked to the solid support through their carboxy-terminus. While this method allows for very accurate mapping of linear epitopes, the length of the peptides which can be reliably synthesized on the rods is limited. This may sometimes present problems if the length of the epitope exceeds the length of the peptides synthesized.

A second approach to epitope mapping involves the synthesis of larger peptides, generally between fifteen and thirty amino acids in length, along the sequence of the protein to be analyzed. Consecutive peptides may be contiguous but are preferably overlapping. Following cleavage, the evaluation of antibody binding to the individual peptides is assessed and the approximate positions of the epitopes can be identified. An example of this approach is given in Neurath, A. R., Strick, N., and Lee, E. S. Y.; J. Gen. Virol. (1990) 71:85-95. This approach has the advantage that longer peptides can be synthesized which presumably more closely resemble the homologous sequence in the native protein and which offer better targets for antibody binding. The disadvantage of this approach is that each peptide is chemically unique and that the conditions under which each peptide can be optimally coated onto a solid phase for immunological evaluation may vary widely in terms of such factors as pH, ionic strength, and buffer composition. The quantity of peptide which can be adsorbed onto the solid phase is also an uncontrolled factor which is unique for each peptide.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide modified peptides corresponding to immunologically useful epitopes with said modified peptides having superior immunological properties over non-modified versions of these peptides.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide modified peptides corresponding to immunologically useful epitopes which could not be identified through classical epitopes mapping techniques.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies using said peptides, with said process being easy to perform and amenable to standardization.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a process for the determination of peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes on bacterial and viral proteins.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a method for preparing protein sequences used in any of said methods.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a method for preparing protein sequence which can be used in a process for the determination of their epitopes or in an in vitro method for the determination of antibodies.

Another aim of the invention is to provide intermediary compounds useful for the preparation of peptides used in the above-mentioned methods.

Another aim of the present invention is also to provide compositions containing peptides determined to correspond to immunologically important epitopes on proteins for diagnostic purposes.

Another aim of the present invention is also to provide compositions containing peptides determined to correspond to immunologically important epitopes on proteins for vaccine purposes.

According to the present invention, a series of biotinylated peptides representing immunologically important regions of viral proteins have been identified and prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. These peptides have been identified to be very useful for (i) the detection of antibodies to HCV, and/or HIV, and/or HTLV-I or II. In some preferred arrangements, these peptides were also found or are at least expected, to be useful in stimulating the production of antibodies to HCV, and/or HIV, and/or HTLV-I or II in healthy animals such as BALB/C mice, and in a vaccine composition to prevent HCV and/or HIV, and/or HTLV-I or II infection.

As demonstrated in the Examples section of the present invention, the use of biotinylated peptides also allows the determination of immunologically important epitopes within a previously determined protein sequence. The determination of immunologically important epitopes using non-biotinylated peptides, which are covalently coupled to the solid phase, often fails to localize these epitopes. Especially in case of localization of structural epitopes, the use of biotinylated peptides seems to be quite successful.

(1) According to the present invention, a peptide composition useful for the detection of antibodies to HCV, and/or HIV, and/or HTLV-I or II comprise peptides corresponding to immunologically important epitopes being of the structure:

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-[amino acids] n -Y-(X)-Z

where

[amino acids] n is meant to designate the length of the peptide chain where n is the number of residues, being an integer from about 4 to about 50, preferably less than about 35, more preferably less than about 30, and advantageously from about 4 to about 25;

B represents biotin;

X represents a biotinylated compound which is incorporated during the synthetic process;

Y represents a covalent bond or one or more chemical entities which singly or together form a linker arm separating the amino acids of the peptide proper from the biotinyl moiety B or X, the function of which is to minimize steric hindrance which may interfere with the binding of the biotinyl moiety B or X to avidin or streptavidin, wherein Y is not a covalent bond, it is advantageously at least one chemical entity and may consist of as many as 30 chemical entities but will consist most frequently of 1 to 10 chemical entities, which may be identical or different, more preferably glycine residues, β-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid, or 6-aminohexanoic acid;

B and X being enclosed in parentheses to indicate that the presence of biotin or a biotinylated compound in these positions is optional, the only stipulation being that B or X be present in at least one of the positions shown;

A, when present, as indicated by parentheses, represents (an) amino acid(s), an amino group, or a chemical modification of the amino terminus of the peptide chain;

Z represents (an) amino acid(s), an OH-group, an NH2-group, or a linkage involving either of these two chemical groups wherein the amino acids are selectively chosen to be immunodominant epitopes which are recognized by a large percentage of true positive sera or are able to complement other antigens in that the test to increase the detection rate and B interacts with the selected amino acids to produce a compound with greater diagnostic sensitivity.

The peptide composition comprises at least one and preferably a combination of two, three, four or more biotinylated peptides chosen from the following sequences:

1. Human immunodeficiency Virus type 1 Envelope Peptides:

a. gp41

1. gp41, isolate HTLV-IIIB (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-Ile-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

2. (A)-(B)-X)-Y-Ile-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-Leu-Ile-Cys-Thr-Thr-Ala-Val-Pro-Trp-Asn-Ala-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

3. (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Glu-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Lys-Asp-Gln-Gln-Leu-Leu-Gly-Ile-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-Leu-Ile-Y-(X)-Z

4. (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Gln-Ala-Arg-Ile-Leu-Ala-Val-Glu-Arg-Tyr-Leu-Lys-Asp-Gln-Leu-Y-(X)-Z

5. gp41, isolate Ant70 (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Trp-Gly-Cys-Lys-Gly-Lys-Leu-Val-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

6. gp41, isolate ELI (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asp-Gln-Gln-Leu-Leu-Gly-Ile-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-His-Ile-Cys-Thr-Thr-Asn-Val-Pro-Trp-Asn-Y-(X)-Z

b. gp 120

1. Partial V3 loop sequence, consensus (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ile-His-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

1.a. Complete V3 loop sequence, consensus (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Cys-Thr-Arg-Pro-Asn-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ile-His-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Ile-Gly-Asp-Ile-Arg-Gln-Ala-His-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

2. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HIV-1 SF2 (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ile-Tyr-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Argt-Ala-Phe-His-Thr-Thr-Gly-Arg-Ile-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

3. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HIV-1 SC (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Thr-Arg-Ser-Ile-His-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Ala-Thr-Gly-Asp-Ile-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

4. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HIV-1 MN (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Tyr-Asn-Lys-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ile-His-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Lys-Asn-Ile-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

5. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HIV-1 RF (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ile-Thr-Lys-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Val-Ile-Tyr-Ala-Thr-Gly-Gln-Ile-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

6. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HIV-1 mal (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Arg-Gly-Ile-His-Phe-Gly-Pro-Gly-Gln-Ala-Leu-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Gly-Ile-Val-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

7. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HTLV-IIIB (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Lys-Ser-Ile-Arg-Ile-Gln-Arg-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Val-Thr-Ile-Gly-Lys-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

8. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate HIV-1 ELI (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gln-Asn-Thr-Arg-Gln-Arg-Thr-Pro-Ile-Gly-Leu-Gly-Gln-Ser-Leu-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Arg-Ser-Arg-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

9. Partial V3 loop sequence, isolate ANT70 (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gln-Ile-Asp-Ile-Gln-Glu-Met-Arg-Ile-Gly-Pro-Met-Ala-Trp-Tyr-Ser-Met-Gly-Ile-Gly-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

10. Partial V3 loop sequence, Brazilian isolate, Peptide V3-368 (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Asn-Thr-Arg-Arg-Gly-Ile-His-Met-Gly-Trp-Gly-Arg-Thr-Phe-Tyr-Ala-Thr-Gly-Glu-Ile-Ile-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

11. Carboxy-terminus, HIV-1 gp120 (A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Arg-Asp-Asn-Trp-Arg-Ser-Glu-Leu-Tyr-Lys-Tyr-Lys-Val-Val-Lys-Ile-Glu-Pro-Leu-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Thr-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg-Arg-Val-Val-Gln-Arg-Glu-Lys-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

2. Human immunodeficiency Virus type 2 Envelope Peptide

a. gp41, isolate HIV-2 rod

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln-Val-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

b.

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Gln-Asp-Gln-Ala-Arg-Leu-Asn-Ser-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln-Val-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

c. gp120, isolate HIV-2 NIHZ

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Lys-Thr-Val-Leu-Pro-Ile-Thr-Phe-Met-Ser-Gly-Phe-Lys-Phe-His-Ser-Gln-Pro-Val-Ile-Asn-Lys-Y-(X)-Z

d. Partial V3 loop sequence, Peptide V3-GB12

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Lys-Thr-Val-Val-Pro-Ile-Thr-Leu-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu-Val-Phe-His-Ser-Gln-Pro-Ile-Asn-Lys-Y-(X)-Z

e. Partial V3 loop sequence, Peptide V3-239

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Lys-Thr-Val-Leu-Pro-Val-Thr-Ile-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu-Val-Phe-His-Ser-Gln-Pro-Ile-Asp-Asp-Y-(X)-Z

3. Chimpanzee immunodeficiency Virus

a. gp41

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-Ala-Val-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

4. Simian immunodeficiency Virus

a. Transmembrane protein, isolate SIVagm (TY01)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ala-Trp-Lys-Gln-Val-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

b. Transmembrane protein, isolate SIVmnd

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gln-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Trp-Ala-Gln-Val-Cys-Y-(X)-Z

5. HTLV-I and HTLV-II Virus

Peptide I-gp46-3

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Asn-Val-Ser-Val-Pro-Ser-Ser-Ser-Ser-Thr-Leu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Ser-Leu-Ala-Y-(X)-Z Peptide I-gp46-5

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Tyr-Thr-Cys-Ile-Val-Cys-Ile-Asp-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Ser-Thr-Trp-His-Val-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Pro-X-(X)-Z

Peptide I-gp46-4

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asn-Ser-Leu-Ile-Leu-Pro-Pro-Phe-Ser-Leu-Ser-Pro-Val-Pro-Thr-Leu-Gly-Ser-Arg-Ser-Arg-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide I-gp46-6

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asp-Ala-Pro-Gly-Tyr-Asp-Pro-Ile-Trp-Phe-Leu-Asn-Thr-Glu-Pro-Ser-Gln-Leu-Pro-Pro-Thr-Ala-Pro-Pro-Leu-Leu-Pro-His-Ser-Asn-Leu-Asp-His-Ile-Leu-Glu-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide I-p21-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gln-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Gln-Asn-Arg-Arg-Gly-Leu-Asp-Leu-Leu-Phe-Trp-Glu-Gln-Gly-Gly-Leu-Cys-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gln-Glu-Gln-Cys-Arg-Phe-Pro-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide I-p19

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser-Ser-Pro-Thr-His-Asp-Pro-Pro-Asp-Ser-Asp-Pro-Gln-Ile-Pro-Pro-Pro-Tyr-Val-Glu-Pro-Thr-Ala-Pro-Gln-Val-Leu-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide II-gp52-1

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asn-Arg-Gln-Gly-Leu-Gly-Tyr-Tyr-Ser-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Asn-Asp-Pro-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide II-gp52-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asp-Ala-Pro-Gly-Tyr-Asp-Pro-Leu-Trp-Phe-Ile-Thr-Ser-Glu-Pro-Thr-Gln-Pro-Pro-Pro-Thr-Ser-Pro-Pro-Leu-Val-His-Asp-Ser-Asp-Leu-Glu-His-Val-Leu-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide II-gp52-3:

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Tyr-Ser-Cys-Met-Val-Cys-Val-Asp-Arg-Ser-Ser-Leu-Ser-Ser-Trp-His-Val-Leu-Tyr-Thr-Pro-Asn-Ile-Ser-Ile-Pro-Gln-Gln-Thr-Ser-Ser-Arg-Thr-Ile-Leu-Phe-Pro-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide II-p19

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Pro-Thr-Thr-Thr-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Pro-Ser-Pro-Glu-Ala-His-Val-Pro-Pro-Pro-Tyr-Val-Glu-Pro-Thr-Thr-Thr-Gln-Cys-Phe-Y-(X)-Z

These above-mentioned biotinylated peptides were synthesized and found to be specifically recognized by antisera from infected humans or primers are considered particularly advantageous. All these above-mentioned peptides are new.

The process of the invention enables to increase the antigenicity of these HIV peptides, which can however be bound to a support, even when they are not biotinylated.

The HCV peptide sequences which follow have been found to be specifically recognized by antisera from infected humans or primates and which are considered particularly advantageous. The non-biotinylated amino acid sequences can be synthesized according to classical methods.

The peptides of interest are intended to mimic immunologically proteins or domains of proteins encoded by HCV. Since sequence variability has been observed for HCV, it may be desirable to vary one or more amino acids so as to better mimic the epitopes of different strains. It should be understood that the peptides described need not be identical to any particular HCV sequence as long as the subject compounds are capable of providing for immunological competition with at least one strain of HCV. The peptides may therefore be subject to insertions, deletions and conservative as well as non-conservative amino acid substitutions where such changes might provide for certain advantages in their use. The peptides will preferably be as short as possible while still maintaining all of the sensitivity of the larger sequence. In certain cases, it may be desirable to join two or more peptides together into a single structure. The formation of such a composite may involve covalent or non-covalent linkages.

Of particular interest are biotinylated peptides of HCV into which cysteine, thioglycollis acid, or other thiol-containing compounds have been incorporated into the peptide chain for the purpose of providing mercapto-groups which can be used for cyclization of the peptides.

The following peptides from the Core region of HCV were determined as corresponding to immunologically important epitopes.

1. Peptide I or Core 1 (aa. 1-20) has the following amino acid sequence:

(I)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Met-Ser-Thr-Ile-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Y-(X)-Z

2. Peptide II or Case 2 (aa. 7-26) has the amino acid sequence:

(II)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

Of particular interest is the oligopeptide IIA (aa. 8 to 18):

(IIA)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Y-(X)-Z.

3. Peptide III or Core 3 (aa 13-32) has the sequence:

(III)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gln-Ile-Val-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

4. Peptide IV or Core 7 (aa 37-56) has the sequences:

(IV)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Ala-Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

Of particular interest is the oligopeptide IVa or Core 6 (aa. 31 to 50):

(IVa)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Gly-Gly-Val-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Ala-Thr-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

5. Peptide V or Core 9 (aa 49-68) has the sequence:

(V)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val-Y-(X)-Z

Of particular interest is the oligopeptide Va (aa. 55 to 74):

(Va)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val-Arg-Arg-Pro-Glu-Gly-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

6. Peptide VI or Core 11 (aa 61-80) has the following sequence:

(VI)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val-Arg-Arg-Pro-Glu-Gly-Arg-Thr-Trp-Ala-Gln-Pro-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

7. Peptide VII (aa 73-92) or core 13 has the sequence:

(VII)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Arg-Thr-Trp-Ala-Gln-Pro-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Pro-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Asn-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

8. Peptide Core 123 (aa. 1-32):

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Met-Ser-Thr-Ile-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-Y-(X)-Z

9. Peptide Core 7910 (aa. 37-80):

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Gly-Val-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Arg-Ala-Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val-Arg-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

The following peptides from the NS4 region of HCV were found to correspond to immunologically important epitopes.

Peptide VIII or NS4-1 or HCV1 (aa 1688-1707) has the sequence:

(VIII)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Ser-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Ile-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide IX or HCV2 (aa 1694-1713) has the sequence:

(IX)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide HCV3

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide X of HCV4 (aa 1706-1725) has the sequence:

(X)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

11. Peptide XI or NS4-5 or HCV5 (aa 1712-1731) has the sequence:

(XI)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Y-(X)-Z

12. Peptide XII or HCV6 (aa 1718-1737) has the sequence:

(XII)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Y-(X)-Z

13. Peptide XIII or NS4-7 or HCV7 (aa 1724-1743) has the sequence:

(XIII)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Thr-Ala-Ser-Arg-Gln-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

14. Peptide XIV or HCV8 (aa 1730-1749) has the sequence:

(XIV)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Thr-Ala-Ser-Arg-Gln-Ala-Glu-Val-Ile-Ala-Pro-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

15. Peptide NS4-27 or HCV9 (aa. 1712-1743):

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Glu-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Thr-Ala-Ser-Arg-Gln-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

16. Peptide NS4e:

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Glu-Gly-Ala-Val-Gln-Trp-Met-Asn-Arg-Leu-Ile-Ala-Phe-Ala-Ser-Arg-Gly-Asn-His-Y-(X)-Z

The following peptides of the NS5 region of HCV were found to correspond to immunologically important epitopes.

Peptide XV or NS5-25 (aa 2263-2282) has the sequence:

(XV)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Glu-Asp-Glu-Arg-Glu-Ile-Ser-Val-Pro-Ala-Glu-Ile-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide XVI or NS5-27 (aa 2275-2294) has the sequence:

(XVI)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Gln-Ala-Leu-Pro-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide XVII or NS5-29 (aa 2287-2306) has the sequence:

(XVII)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Pro-Pro-Leu-Val-Glu-Thr-Trp-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide XVIII or NS5-31 (aa 2299-2318) has the sequence:

(XVIII)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Glu-Thr-Trp-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Pro-Val-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide XIX or NS5-33 (aa 2311-2330) has the sequence:

(XIX)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Lys-Ser-Pro-Pro-Val-Pro-Pro-Pro-Arg-Lys-Lys-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide NS5-2527 (aa. 2263 to 2294):

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Glu-Asp-Glu-Arg-Glu-Ile-Ser-Val-Pro-Ala-Glu-Ile-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Gln-Ala-Leu-Pro-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Y-(X)-Z

The following peptides from the N-terminal region of the E2/NS1 region of HCV were found to correspond to immunologically important epitopes.

peptide XXa (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Glu-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ala-Ala-Ser-His-Thr-Thr-Ser-Thr-Leu-Ala-Ser-Le-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Ala-Ser-Gln-Arg-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXa-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Glu-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ala-Ala-Ser-His-Thr-Thr-Ser-Thr-Leu-Ala-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXa-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-His-Thr-Thr-Ser-Thr-Leu-Ala-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Ala-Ser-Gln-Arg-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXb (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-Arg-Val-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ser-Asp-Thr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Ser-Ala-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXb-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-Arg-Val-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ser-Asp-Thr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXb-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Ser-Asp-Thr-Arg-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Ser-Ala-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXc (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-Arg-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Val-Gln-Gly-His-Val-Thr-Cys-Thr-Leu-Thr-Ser-Leu-Phe-Arg-Pro-Gly-Ala-Ser-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXc-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-Arg-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Val-Gln-Gly-His-Val-Thr-Cys-Thr-Leu-Thr-Ser-Leu-Phe-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXc-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Val-Thr-Cys-Thr-Leu-Thr-Ser-Leu-Phe-Arg-Pro-Gly-Ala-Ser-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXc (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-His-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Arg-Val-Ala-Ser-Ser-Thr-Gln-Ser-Leu-Val-Ser-Trp-Leu-Ser-Gln-Gly-Pro-Ser-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXd-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-His-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Arg-Val-Ala-Ser-Ser-Thr-Gln-Ser-Leu-Val-Ser-Trp-Leu-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXd-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Ser-Ser-Thr-Gln-Ser-Leu-Val-Ser-Trp-Leu-Ser-Gln-Gly-Pro-Ser-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Val-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXe (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Asp-Thr-His-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Ala-Gln-Ala-Lys-Thr-Thr-Asn-Arg-Leu-Val-Ser-Met-Phe-Ala-Ser-Gly-Pro-Ser-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXe-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-Asp-Thr-His-Val-Thr-Gly-Gly-Ala-Gln-Ala-Lys-Thr-Thr-Asn-Arg-Leu-Val-Ser-Met-Phe-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXe-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Lys-Thr-Thr-Asn-Arg-Leu-Val-Ser-Met-Phe-Ala-Ser-Gly-Pro-Ser-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXf (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Glu-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Ser-Gly-Gly-Asn-Ala-Gly-His-Thr-Met-Thr-Gly-Ile-Val-Arg-Phe-Phe-Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro-Lys-Gln-Asn-Val-His-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXf-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Glu-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Ser-Gly-Gly-Asn-Ala-Gly-His-Thr-Met-Thr-Gly-Ile-Val-Arg-Phe-Phe-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXf-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Gly-His-Thr-Met-Thr-Gly-Ile-Val-Arg-Phe-Phe-Ala-Pro-Gly-Pro-Lys-Gln-Asn-Val-His-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXg (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Glu-Thr-Ile-Val-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Thr-Pro-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Asn-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXg-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Glu-Thr-Ile-Val-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXg-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Arg-Ala-Met-Ser-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Thr-Pro-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Asn-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXh (aa. 383-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Glu-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Gly-Gly-Ser-Thr-Ala-Arg-Thr-Thr-Gln-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Arg-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Asp-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asp-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXh-1 (aa. 383-404)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Glu-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Gly-Gly-Ser-Thr-Ala-Arg-Thr-Thr-Gln-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XXh-2 (aa. 393-416)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Arg-Thr-Thr-Gln-Gly-Leu-Val-Ser-Leu-Phe-Ser-Arg-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Asp-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

The above-mentioned sequences correspond to epitopes localized on the HCV type-1 isolate HCV-1 (Choo et al. Proc; Natl. Acad. Sci. 88, 2451-2455, 1991) and HC-J1 (Okamoto et al., Jap. J. Exp. Med. 60, 167-177, 1990) sequence. It is, however, to be understood that also peptides from other type-1 HCV isolate sequences which correspond to the above-mentioned immunologically important regions may also be comprised in the composition according to the invention. An example of variant HCV sequences also falling within the present invention may be derived from the HCV-J isolate (Kato et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 87, 9524-9528).

The following peptides derived from the same regions as the above-cited peptide regions from the type 2 HCV sequences.

peptide XX/2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Gln-Thr-His-Thr-Val-Gly-Gly-Ser-Thr-Ala-His-Asn-Ala-Arg-Thr-Leu-Thr-Gly-Met-Phe-Ser-Leu-Gly-Ala-Arg-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XX/2-1

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Gln-Thr-His-Thr-Val-Gly-Gly-Ser-Thr-Ala-His-Asn-Ala-Arg-Thr-Leu-Thr-Gly-Met-Phe-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XX/2-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-His-Asn-Ala-Arg-Thr-Leu-Thr-Gly-Met-Phe-Ser-Leu-Gly-Ala-Arg-Gln-Lys-Ile-Gln-Leu-Ile-Asn-Thr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide VIII-2 or NS4-1 (2)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Asn-Gln-Arg-Ala-Val-Val-Ala-Pro-Asp-Lys-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Ala-Phe-Asp-Glu-Y-(X)-Z

peptide IX-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Ala-Pro-Asp-Lys-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Ala-Phe-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ala-Ser-Y-(X)-Z

peptide X-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ala-Ser-Arg-Ala-Ala-Leu-Ile-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Arg-Ile-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XI-2 or NS4-5 (2)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Ser-Arg-Ala-Ala-Leu-Ile-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Arg-Ile-Ala-Glu-Met-Leu-Lys-Ser-Lys-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XII-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gln-Arg-Ile-Ala-Glu-Met-Leu-Lys-Ser-Lys-Ile-Gln-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XIII-2 or NS4-7(2)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Ala-Glu-Met-Leu-Lys-Ser-Lys-Ile-Gln-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Gln-Ala-Ser-Lys-Gln-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XIV-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-Lys-Ile-Gln-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Gln-Ala-Ser-Lys-Gln-Ala-Gln-Asp-Ile-Gln-Pro-Ala-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XV-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Arg-Ser-Asp-Leu-Glu-Pro-Ser-Ile-Pro-Ser-Glu-Tyr-Met-Leu-Pro-Lys-Lys-Arg-Phe-Pro-(X)-Y-Z

peptide XVI-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Met-Leu-Pro-Lys-Lys-Arg-Phe-Pro-Pro-Ala-Leu-Pro-Ala-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XVII-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ala-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Pro-Pro-Leu-Val-Glu-Ser-Trp-Lys-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XVIII-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Glu-Ser-Trp-Lys-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Gln-Pro-Ala-Thr-Val-Ala-Gly-Cys-Ala-Leu-Pro-Pro-Y-(X)-Z

peptide XIX-2

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Val-Ala-Gly-Cys-Ala-Leu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Lys-Lys-Thr-Pro-Thr-Pro-Pro-Pro-Arg-Art-Arg-Y-(X)-Z

The above-mentioned sequences correspond to epitopes localized on the HCV type-2 isolate HC-J6 sequence (Okamoto et al., J. Gen. Virology 72, 2697-2704, 1991). It is, however, to be understood that also peptides from other type-2 HCV isolate sequences which correspond to the above-mentioned immunologically important regions may also be comprised in the composition according to the invention. Examples of variant sequences also falling within the present invention may be derived from HCV isolate HC-J8 (Okamato et al., Virology 188, 331-341, 1992).

The following peptides from the NS4 region of HCV type 3 are also preferred peptides according to the present invention:

Peptide NS4-1 (3)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Leu-Gly-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Ile-Val-Pro-Asp-Lys-Glu-Val-leu-Tyr-Gln-Gln-Tyr-Asp-Glu-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide NS4-5 (3)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ser-Gln-Ala-Ala-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Ala-Gln-Val-Ile-Ala-His-Gln-Phe-Lys-Glu-Lys-Y-(X)-Z

Peptide NS4-7 (3)

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Ala-His-Gln-His-Gln-Phe-Lys-Glu-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Arg-Ala-Thr-Gln-Gln-Gln-Y-(X)-Z

It is to be understood that also other peptides corresponding to HCV type-3 isolate sequences which correspond to immunologically important regions as determined for HCV type-1 and type-2 may also be comprised in the composition according to the invention.

The composition according to the present invention may also comprise hybrid HCV peptide sequences consisting of combinations of the core epitopes of the HCV core (table 9) HCV NS4 (table 10) or the HCV NS5 (table 11) region separated by Gly and/or Ser residues, and preferentially the following hybrid HCV sequences:

Epi-152

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Gly-Gly-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Pro-Val-Gly-Gly-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Y-(X)-Z

Epi-33B3A

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Gly-Ser-Gly-Val-Tyr-Leu-Leu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Gly-Y-(X)-Z

Epi-4B2A6

(A)-(B)-(X)-Y-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Ser-Gly-Pro-Val-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Y-(X)-Z

The composition according to the present invention may also comprise so called biotinylated mixotope sequences consisting of peptides containing at each position all the amino acids found in the naturally occurring isolates, with said peptides being derived from any of the above-mentioned immunologically important regions (see FIG. 14 ).

(2) A preferred mixture of biotinylated peptides for detecting and/or immunizing against Hepatitis C Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 2 consists of:

A. II, III, IVa, Va, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVI, XVIII, 1a.3, 1a.4, 1a.b, 1b.1a, 2b, 2d,

B. II, III, IVa, Va, IX, IX-2, XI, XI-2, XIII, XIII-2, XV, XV-2, XVI, XVI-2, XVIII, XVIII-2, 1a.3, 1a.4, 1a.b, 1b.1a, 2b, 2d.

(3) A preferred mixture of biotinylated peptides for detecting and/or immunizing against Human Immunodeficiency Virus types 1 and 2 and Human Lymphotropic Virus types I and II consists of:

1a.3, 1a.4, 1b.1, 2b, 2c, 2d, I-gp46-3, I-gp46-4, I-gp46-5, I-gp46-6, II-gp52-2, II-gp52-3, I-p21-2, I-p19, II-p19.

(4) Another preferred mixture of biotinylated peptides for detecting and/or immunizing against Hepatitis C Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus types 1 and 2 and Human Lymphotropic Virus types I and II consists of:

1a.3, 1a.4, 1a.6, 1b.1a, 2d, II, III, IVa, Va, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVI, XVIII, XXa-2, XXc-2, XXg-2, XXh-2, I-gp46-3, I-gp46-4, I-gp46-5, I-gp-46-6, II-gp52-3, I-p21-2, I-p19, II-p19.

(5) The present invention relates also to compositions of biotinylated peptides which are considered particularly advantageous, for diagnostic as well as immunogenic purposes for Hepatitis C Virus, and which advantageously comprise the following mixtures:

A. I, III, IVa, Va,

B. II, III, IVa, Va,

C. IX, XI, XIII,

D. XV, XVI, XVIII, XIX,

E. XXc-2, XXa-1, XXa-2, XXh-1, XXh-2, XXg-2, XX/2-2,

F. IX-2, XI-2, XIII-2,

G. XV-2, XVI-2, XVIII-2, XIX-2,

H. IX, IX-2, IX, XI-2, XIII, XIII-2,

I. XV, XV-2, XVI, XVI-2, XVIII, XVIII-2, XIX, XIX-2,

J. II, III, IVa, Va, IX, IX-2, XI, XI-2, XIII, XIII-2, XV, XV-2, XVI, XVI-2, XVIII, XVIII-2,

K. II, III, IVa, Va, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVI, XVIII,

L. II, III, IV, V, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVI, XVIII,

M. II, III, IVa, Va, IX, XI, XIII, XV, XVI, XVIII, XXa-2, XXc-2, XXg-2, XXh-2.

(6) The present invention relates also to compositions of biotinylated peptides which are considered particularly advantageous, for diagnostic as well as immunogenic purposes for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and which are advantageously selected from the following mixtures: for type 1:

A. 1a.3, 1a.4, 1a.5, 1a.b

B. 1a.3, 1a.4, 1b.1, 1b.3, 1b.6, 1b.10,

C. 1b.1, 1b.2, 1b.3, 1b.4, 1b.5, 1b.6, 1b.7, 1b.8, 1b.9, 1b.10

D. 1b.1, 1b.2, 1b.3, 1b.4, 1b.6, 1b.10,

E. 1a.3, 1a.4, 1a.5, 1a.b, 1b.1a, for type 2:

A. 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, for types 1 and 2:

A. 1a.3, 1a.4, 1b.1, 2b, 2c, 2d,

B. 1a.3, 1a.4, 1b.1a, 2b, 2d.

(7) The present invention relates also to compositions comprising biotinylated peptides which are considered particularly advantageous, for diagnostic as well as immunogenic purposes for Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus and are advantageously selected from the following mixtures:

for Human T-Lymphotropic virus type I:

Peptides I-gp46-1, I-gp46-4, I-gp46-5, I-gp46-6, I-p21-2, I-p19

for Human T-Lymphotropic virus type II:

Peptides II-gp52-1, II-gp52-2, II-gp52-3, I-gp46-4, II-p19, I-p21-2.

for Human lymphotropic virus types I and II:

Peptides I-gp46-3, I-gp46-4, I-gp46-5, I-gp46-6, II-gp52-1, IIgp52-2, II-gp52-3, I-p21-2, I-p19, II-p19.

The synthesis of the peptides may be achieved in solution or on a solid support. Synthesis protocols generally employ t-butyloxycarbonyl- or 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-protected activated amino acids. The procedures for carrying out the synthesis, the amino acid activation techniques, the types of side-chain production, and the cleavage procedures used are amply described in, for example, Stewart and Young, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, 2nd Edition, Pierce Chemical Company, 1984; and Atherton and Sheppard, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, IRL Press, 1989.

(8) The present invention also relates to a process for in vitro determination of antibodies using the above defined biotinylated peptides, wherein said biotinylated peptides are preferably in the form of streptavidin-biotinylated peptide complexes or avidin-biotinylated peptide complexes.

In the complex of streptavidin-biotinylated peptides or avidin-biotinylated peptides, the peptides may be biotinylated either N-terminally, C-terminally or internally.

This approach for the determination of antibodies is not limited with respect to peptide length and avoids the difficulties inherent in coating peptides directly onto the solid phase for immunological evaluation.

The use of biotinylated peptides, in the process of the invention, makes the anchorage of peptides to a solid support such that it leaves their essential amino acids free to be recognized by antibodies.

The expression anchoring peptide to a solid support means the attachment of the peptide to a support via covalent bonds or non-covalent interactions such that the peptide becomes immobilized.

The solid support can be nitrocellulose, polystyrene, nylon or any other natural or synthetic polymer.

The expression “their essential amino acids are left free to be recognized by antibodies” means that amino acid side chains of the peptide proper are neither chemically modified in any way nor involved in the interaction between the peptide and the solid phase.

The use of biotinylated peptides in the process of the invention enables said biotinylated peptides to be free to assume a wide range of conformations, among which at least one is appropriate for the binding of antibodies to said biotinylated peptides.

Any biotinylated peptide can be selected to be used in the process of the invention. However, some of them are able to be anchored on solid support and to react with antibodies specifically recognizing the epitope within this peptide even without being biotinylated and without being involved in a complex of avidin of streptavidin. In this case, the use of biotinylated peptides results in an apparent increase of the antigenicity of peptides with respect to the antigenicity observed when the peptides are not biotinylated. The expression “apparent” is meant to indicate an observed change obtained under similar test conditions without regard to the absolute cause of the observed change.

By “antigenicity” is meant the property of a peptide to be bound by an antibody.

By “increase of antigenicity” is meant that a positive signal is obtained for a dilution which is at least two times the dilution of the non-biotinylated peptides. Said positive signal is of the same magnitude as the one obtained for non-biotinylated peptides.

In other words, obtaining a positive signal can be obtained for a smaller amount of biotinylated peptide, compared to the amount of non-biotinylated peptide.

The present invention also illustrated a process for the identification of epitopes in a protein sequence comprises the following steps:

the preparation of peptides corresponding to portions of the amino acid sequence of the protein or polypeptide to be analyzed, said peptides being either contiguous, or preferably overlapping each other, the amount of overlapping being at least 3 amino acids, and preferably about 6 to about 12, the length of the peptides being at least about 5 amino acids and no more than about 50, preferably no more than about 40 amino acids, and more preferably from 9 to about 30 amino acids, with said peptides being characterized in that they are biotinylated;

binding the peptides to a solid phase through the interaction between the biotinyl group and streptavidin or avidin and measuring antibody binding to the individual peptides using classical methods.

(9) The present invention also relates to a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies to HIV or diagnosis of HIV infection by using a peptide composition as defined above in an immunoassay procedure, wherein the biotinylated peptides used are in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated or of avidin-biotinylated peptides.

(10) The present invention relates also to a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies to HCV or diagnosis of HCV infection by using a peptide composition as defined above in an immunoassay procedure, wherein the biotinylated peptides used are in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated or of avidin-biotinylated peptides.

(11) The present invention relates also to a process for the in vitro determination of antibodies to HTLV I or II or diagnosis of HTLV I or II infection by using a peptide composition as defined above in an immunoassay procedure, wherein the biotinylated peptides used are in the form of complexes of streptavidin-biotinylated or of avidin-biotinylated peptides.

A preferred method for carrying out the in vitro determination of antibodies is by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). This assay employs a solid phase which is generally a polystyrene microtiter plate or bead. The solid phase may, however, be any material which is capable of binding a protein, either chemically via a covalent linkage or by passive adsorption. In this regard, nylon-based membranes are also considered to be particularly advantageous. The solid phase is coated with streptavidin or avidin and after a suitable period, excess unbound protein is removed by washing. Any unoccupied binding sites on the solid phase are then blocked with an irrelevant protein such as bovine serum albumin or casein.

A solution containing the mixture or selection of biotinylated peptides is subsequently brought into contact with the streptavidin- or avidin-coated surface and allowed to bind. Unbound peptide is removed by washing. Alternatively, biotinylated peptides are allowed to form complexes with either avidin or streptavidin. The resulting complexes are used to coat the solid phase. After a suitable incubation period, unbound complex is removed by washing. An appropriate dilution of an antiserum or other body fluid is brought into contact with the solid phase to which the peptide is bound. The incubation is carried out for a time necessary to allow the binding reaction to occur. Subsequently, unbound components are removed by washing the solid phase. The detection of immune complexes is achieved by using heterologous antibodies which specifically bind to the antibodies present in the test serum and which have been conjugated with an enzyme, preferably but not limited to either horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or β-galactosidase, which is capable of converting a colorless or nearly colorless substrate or co-substrate into a highly colored product or a product capable of forming a colored complex with a chromogen which can be detected visually or measured spectrophotometrically.

Other detection systems known in the art may however be employed and include those in which the amount of product formed is measured electrochemically or luminometrically. The detection system may also employ radioactively labeled antibodies, in which case the amount of immune complex is quantified by scintillation counting or counting. In principle, any type of immunological test for the detection of antibodies may be used, as long as the test makes use of the complex between either streptavidin or vidin and (a) biotinylated peptide(s) synthesized as described.

Also included are competition assays in which streptavidin- or avidin- biotinylated peptide complexes in solution are permitted to compete with the solid phase-bound antigen for antibody binding or assays in which free peptide in solution is permitted to compete with solid phase-bound streptavidin or avidin: biotinylated peptide complexes. By way of example, the many types of immunological assays for the detection and quantitation of antibodies and antigen are discussed in detail (Tijssen, P., Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoassays, Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, Oxford, N.Y., 1985).

The immunological assays may be restricted to single biotinylated peptides. Preferably, however, a mixture of biotinylated peptides is used which includes more than one epitope derived from the infectious agent(s) to which the presence of specific antibodies is to be measured.

Another preferred method for carrying out the in vitro determination of antibody detection is the line immunoassay (LIA).

This method of antibody detection consists essentially of the following steps:

the antigens, in the form of biotinylated peptide: streptavidin or avidin complexes, to be tested or used are applied as parallel lines onto a membrane which is capable of binding, covalently or non-covalently, the antigen to be tested,

unoccupied binding sites on the membrane are blocked with an irrelevant protein such as casein or bovine serum albumin,

the membrane is cut into strips in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the antigen (biotinylated peptide) lines are applied,

an appropriate dilution of an antiserum or other body fluid (containing antibodies to be detected) is brought into contact with a strip to which the antigens are bound and allowed to incubate for a period of time sufficient to permit the binding reaction to occur,

unbound components are removed by washing the strip,

the detection of immune complexes is achieved by incubating the strip with heterologous antibodies which specifically bind to the antibodies in the test serum and which have been conjugated to an enzyme such as horseradish peroxidase,

the incubation is carried out for a period sufficient to allow binding to occur,

the presence of bound conjugate is detected by addition of the required substrate or co-substrates which are converted to a colored product by the action of the enzyme,

the reactions are detected visually or may be quantified by densitometry.

(12) As demonstrated in the Examples section the present invention relates also the the use of a peptide composition as defined above, for immunization against HIV, and/or HCV, and/or HTLV I or II infection.

(13) The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the bitinylated peptides used in the invention involves the use of N-α-Fmoc-X (N-y-biotin) or N-α-Fmoc-X (N-y-biotin) derivative, wherein X represents

where n is at least 1 but less than 10 and is preferably between 2 and 6, one amino group being attached to the Cα atom while the other being attached to carbon Cy, which is the most distal carbon in the side chain; or their esters obtained with alcohol ROH and more particularly pentafluorophenyl ester;

y representing position y with respect to the carbon atom carrying the COOH group in the radical.

This biotin derivative will be called intermediary product, and the above-defined intermediary products are new compounds determined according to the process of the invention.

(14) In an advantageous method for preparing the compounds of the invention, the intermediary product can be represented by one of the following formula:

N-α-Fmoc- (N-y-biotin) is N-α-Fmoc-lysine (ε-biotin) or N-α-Fmoc-ornithine (N-δ-biotin)

(15) The N-terminal biotinylated peptides can be prepared according to the method which comprises the following steps:

addition of the successive amino acids duly protected onto the resin to give:

Fmoc−AA n . . . AA 1 −resin,

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminal for instance by means of piperidine,

addition of the intermediary product:

 through its COOH onto the NH 2 -terminal to obtain:

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminal group of the compound obtained, cleavage from the resin, extraction and purification of the peptide obtained, biotinylated at its amino terminal, the steps of side chain deprotection and peptide cleavage being liable to be performed simultaneously or separately, and particularly

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminal group of the intermediary group, for instance by means of piperidine,

cleavage from the resin for instance with an acid such as trifluoroacetic acid, in the presence of scavengers such as ethanedithiol, thioanisole, or anisole,

extraction of the peptide with a solvent such as diethylether to remove most the acid and scavengers,

purification, such as with HPLC to obtain:

Biotin can be conveniently coupled to the free amino-terminus of an otherwise fully protected peptide chain using also conventional activation procedures. Since biotin possesses one carboxyl group and no amino groups, biotin essentially functions as a chain terminator. Preferred activating agents for in situ activation include but are not limited to benzotriazol-1-yl-oxo-tripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBOP), O-benzotriazol-1-yl-N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU), and O-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU). The activation procedures employing these and related compounds are known to those versed in the art of solid phase peptide synthesis and the coupling of biotin does not entail a significant departure from standard coupling protocols.

Biotin in a pre-activated form may also be used. Either N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin or bitinamidocaproate N-hydroxysuccinimide ester are conveniently employed and both are commercially available. This method of coupling has been described by Lobl, T. J., Deibel, M. R., and Yem, A. W., Anal. Biochem. (1988) 170(2):502-511. Following addition of the N-terminal biotin, the peptide is cleaved from the resin in the presence of scavengers the choice of which will depend on the usual considerations of peptide amino acid composition and the nature of the protecting groups used.

(16) The carboxy terminal biotinylated peptides involved in the process of the invention can be prepared according to a method which comprises

coupling of a carboxy-activated form of the intermediary product as defined above to a cleavable linker attached to the resin, for instance to obtain the following compound:

deprotection of the α amino group of the intermediary compound, for instance by means of piperidine to obtain:

successive addition of the subsequent amino acids AA 1 . . . AA n duly protected onto

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminal for instance by means of piperidine,

deprotection of the compound obtained, cleavage from the resin, extraction and purification of the peptide obtained, biotinylated at its carboxy terminal end, the steps of side chain deprotection and peptide cleavage being liable to be performed simultaneously or separately, and particularly

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminal, for instance by means of piperidine,

cleavage from the resin for instance with trifluoroacetic acid, in the presence of scavengers such as ethanedithiol, or thioanisole, or anisole,

extraction of the peptide with a solvent such as diethylether to remove most of the acid and scavengers,

purification, such as with HPLC to obtain:

(17) The internally biotinylated peptides can be prepared according to a method which comprises the following steps:

addition of successive amino acids duly protected onto the resin to give:

Fmoc−AA n . . . AA 1 −resin,

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminal,

addition of the intermediary product:

 through its COOH onto the NH 2 -terminal to obtain:

deprotection of the α amino group of the intermediary compound, for instance by means of piperidine to obtain:

addition of the subsequent amino acids duly protected onto the resin to give:

deprotection of the NH2 terminal group of the compound obtained, cleavage from the resin, extraction and purification of the peptide obtained, biotinylated at its amino-terminal, the steps of side chain deprotection and peptide cleavage being liable to be performed simultaneously or separately, and particularly,

deprotection of the NH 2 -terminus, for instance by means of piperidine,

cleavage from the resin for instance with trifluoroacetic acid, in the presence of scavengers such as ethanedithiol, or thioanisole, or anisole,

extraction of the peptide with a solvent such as diethylether to remove most of the acid and scavengers,

purification, such as with HPLC to obtain:

Under certain circumstances, it may prove particularly advantageous to be able to biotinylate a peptide internally or at its carboxy-terminus. Such instances arise, for example, when the amino acid sequence of a peptide corresponds to the amino-terminal sequence of a protein. Attachment of a biotin to the amino-terminus of such a peptide results in a structure which is significantly different from that found in the native protein and may, as a consequence, adversely affect the binding properties of biochemical properties of the peptide. It is also possible that even for peptides corresponding to internal protein sequences, their recognition by binding proteins or immunoglobulins may depend on which end of the peptide and the manner in which it is presented for binding. The importance of peptide orientation has been described by Dryberg, T. and Oldstone, M. B. A., J. Exp. Med. (1986) 164:1344-1349.

In order to be able to incorporate a biotinyl moiety into a peptide in a position and sequence independent manner, efforts were made to synthesize a suitable reagent which can be coupled using conventional procedures. A convenient reagent for C-terminal or internal biotinylation is N-ε-biotinyl-lysine. Provided the α-amino group of this compound is suitably protected (Fmoc and tBoc), this reagent may be used to introduce a biotin anywhere in the peptide chain, including at the amino terminus, by the standard procedures used in solid phase peptide synthesis. The synthesis of the t-Boc-protected derivative has been described (Bodansky, M., and Fagan, D T., J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1977) 99:235-239) and was used to synthesize short peptides for use in studying the enzyme activities of certain transcarboxylases.

Unlike the t-Boc derivative, the synthesis of N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) has not been described and given the growing interest in Fmoc-based synthesis strategies, this compound is considered particularly advantageous.

There are a number of possible routes which can be taken to arrive at the desired Fmoc-protected compound. These are shown in FIG. 1 . In the first approach, commercially available N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-tBoc) can be used as the starting material. The N-ε-tBoc protection is removed using trifluoroacetic acid and a scavenger such as water. A slight molar excess of the N-α-Fmoc-lysine so obtained is then reacted with carboxy-activated biotin. The resulting product can be readily purified by selective extractions and standard chromatographic techniques. In an alternative approach, N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) can be produced from commercially available N-ε-biotinyl lysine (biocytin) by reaction with fluorenylmethylsuccinimidyl carbonate. Numerous examples of these reactions which can be used as guidelines are given in Atherton and Sheppard, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, IRL Press, 1989.

The strategy shown in FIG. 1 (method A) may also be applied to synthesize N-α-Fmoc-ornithine (N-δ-biotin) from commercially available N-α-Fmoc-ornithine (N-δ-tBoc). The ornithine derivative differs from the lysine derivative only in the length of the side chain which, for the ornithine derivative, is shorter by one carbon atom. The N-α-Fmoc-Lys can be conveniently incorporated into the peptide chain using the same reagents for in situ activation described for free biotin.

Alternatively, N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin)-O-pentafluorophenyl ester can be conveniently synthesized from N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) and pentafluorophenyl trifluoroacetate using the base-catalyzed transesterification reaction described by Green, M. and Berman, J., Tetrahedron Lett. (1990) 31:5851-5852, for the preparation of O-pentafluorophenyl esters of amino acids. This active ester can be used directly to incorporate N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) into the peptide chain. The class of above-defined intermediary products can be prepared according to a method which comprises the following steps:

reaction of a diamino-monocarboxylic acid previously described with fluorenylmethysuccinimidylcarbonate or fluorenylmethyl chloroformate under conditions of carefully controlled pH to give the singly protected N-α-Fmoc derivative,

or alternatively, use of commercially available N-α-Fmoc-protected diamino-monocarboxylic acids when the side chain amino group is provided with a protecting group which is different from the Fmoc group used to protect the α-amino group, the side chain amino group protection being liable to be selectively removed under conditions which leave the N-α-Fmoc group intact,

purification of the mono-protected N-α-Fmoc-diamino-monocarboxylic acid derivative by selective extractions and chromatography,

reaction of the derivative obtained with a carboxy-activated derivative of biotin, such as N-hydroxysuccinimide biotin, to obtain the (N-α-Fmoc)-(N-y-biotin) derivative which is the desired intermediary product,

purification of the intermediary product by selective extractions, precipitations, or chromatography.

When the biotinylated peptides used in the process of the invention are to be provided with linker arms, these chemical entities may be conveniently attached to either the N- or C-terminus of a peptide sequence during solid phase synthesis using standard coupling protocols, as long as the amino groups of these compounds are provided with appropriate temporary amino group protection.

All these specific biotinylated peptides are new.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

All the samples and sera mentioned in the figures and tables are randomly chosen samples and sera, containing antibodies produced as a result of naturally occurring infection by a viral agent.

FIG. 1 represents the strategies for the synthesis of N-α-Fmoc-lysine (N-ε-Biotin).

More particularly:

Method A corresponds to the synthesis of (N-α-Fmoc-Lys(N-ε-biotin) from N-ε-Fmoc-Lys(N-ε-tBoc) and Method B corresponds to the synthesis of (N-α-Fmoc-Lys(N-ε-biotin) from N-ε-biotinyl lysine.

FIG. 2 represents the diagram obtained in reverse phase chromatography of the precursors involved in the preparation of the intermediary products defined above, and of the intermediary compounds.

The reverse phase chromatography has been carried out in the following conditions:

gradient specifications:

buffer A: 0.1% TFA in H2O,

buffer B: 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile,

column: C2/C18 reverse phase (Pharmacia, Pep-S),

detection wavelength: 255 nanometers;

gradient:

0% B from 0 to 1 minute,

0% B to 100% B from 1 minute to 60 minutes,

0% B from 60 minutes to 70 minutes.

The first diagram corresponds to method A (see FIG. 1 ) and the second diagram corresponds to method B (see FIG. 1 ).

FIG. 3 a represents the antibody binding to HCV peptide II (in an ELISA).

The upper left curve corresponds to sample 8320.

The upper right curve corresponds to sample 8242.

The lower left curve corresponds to sample 8243.

The lower right curve corresponds to sample 8318.

In each of these samples, the optical density (at 450 nm) is plotted against the coating concentration expressed in μg/ml.

The curve with crosses corresponds to non-biotinylated HCV peptide II and the curve with dots corresponds to biotinylated HCV peptide II.

FIG. 3 b represents the antibody binding to HCV peptide XI (in an ELISA).

The upper left curve corresponds to sample 8320.

The upper right curve corresponds to sample 8326.

The lower left curve corresponds to sample 8242.

The lower right curve corresponds to sample 8243.

In each of these samples, the optical density (at 450 nm) is plotted against the coating concentration expressed in μg/ml.

The curve with crosses corresponds to non-biotinylated HCV peptide XI and the curve with dots corresponds to biotinylated HCV peptide XI.

FIG. 3C represents the antibody binding to HCV peptide XVI (in an ELISA).

The upper left curve corresponds to sample 8326.

The upper right curve corresponds to sample 8242.

The lower right curve corresponds to sample 8243.

The lower right curve corresponds to sample 8318.

In each of these samples, the optical density (at 450 nm) is plotted against the coating concentration expressed in μg/ml.

The curve with crosses corresponds to non-biotinylated HCV peptide XVI and the curve with dots corresponds to biotinylated HCV peptide XVI.

FIG. 4 corresponds to the detection of biotinylated peptides coated directly (in an ELISA).

The first curve corresponds to biotinylated HCV peptide II, the second curve to biotinylated HCV peptide XI and the third curve to biotinylated HCV peptide XVI.

In each of these samples, the optical density (at 450 nm) is plotted against the coating concentration expressed in μg/ml.

FIG. 5 represents the structures of N- and C-terminally biotinylated HIV-1 peptides (hereabove designated by 1a.1) originating from the transmembrane (TM) protein of HIV-1.

FIG. 6 a represents the detection of core epitopes in the Core region of HCV using overlapping 9-mers (in an ELISA).

The sera used are indicated above each diagram.

The ordinates correspond to the optical density at 450 nm.

The abscissae correspond to the sequence of the protein in which the location of the epitope(s) is to be determined. For purposes of graphic illustration, the optical density is assigned to the first amino acid in the respective nine-mer sequences.

FIG. 6 b represents the detection of core epitopes in the NS4 region of HCV using overlapping 9-mers (in an ELISA).

The sera used are indicated above each diagram.

The ordinates correspond to the optical density at 450 nm.

The abscissae correspond to the sequence of the protein in which the location of the epitope(s) is to be determined. For purposes of graphic illustration, the optical density is assigned to the first amino acid in the respective nine-mer sequences.

FIG. 6 c represents the detection of core epitopes in the NS5 region of HCV using overlapping 9-mers (in an ELISA).

The sera used are indicated above each diagram.

The ordinates correspond to the optical density at 450 nm.

The abscissae correspond to the sequence of the protein in which the location of the epitope(s) is to be determined. For purposes of graphic illustration, the optical density is assigned to the first amino acid in the respective nine-mer sequences.

FIG. 7 a corresponds to the positions of biotinylated 20-mers with respect to overlapping 9-mers (in an ELISA).

The abscissae corresponds to the protein sequence in which the epitope(s) is to be determined.

FIG. 7 b corresponds to the positions of biotinylated 20-mers with respect to overlapping 9-mers (in an ELISA).

The abscissae corresponds to the protein sequence in which the epitope(s) is to be determined.

FIG. 7 c corresponds to the positions of biotinylated 20-mers with respect to overlapping 9-mers (in an ELISA).

The abscissae corresponds to the protein sequence in which the epitope(s) is to be determined.

FIG. 8 represents a comparison of antibody recognition of biotinylated and unbiotinylated HCV peptides by line immunoassay (LIA).

FIG. 9 represents a comparison of antibody recognition of biotinylated core peptides by line immunoassay (LIA).

The shorter and longer peptides are compared.

FIG. 10 represents an evaluation of type-specific HCV NS4 peptides by Line immunoassay (LIA).

FIG. 11 represents the amino acid sequence of peptides NS4-a to NS4-e.

FIG. 12 represents the composition of hybrid HCV peptides.

FIG. 13 represents the antibody recognition of hybrid HCV peptides.

FIG. 14 represents the construction scheme for mixotope peptides from the N-terminus of E2/NS1 of HCV type 1.

FIG. 15 represents the mixotope synthesis strategy.

FIG. 16 represents the synthesis of multiple antigen peptides (MAPs).

FIG. 17 represents the recognition of E2/NS1 peptides by sera from rabbits immunized with E2/NS1 “b” peptide MAPs.

FIG. 18 represents the recognition of a commercially available serum panel with a number of biotinylated HTLV-I and HTLV-II peptides incorporated into LIA strips.

Table 1 represents the antibody recognition of unbiotinylated HIV-1 and HIV-2 peptides (designated by TM-HIV1 and TM-HIV-2) and biotinylated HIV-1 and HIV-2 peptides (hereabove referred to as 1a.1 and 2a, and also designated by TM-HIV-1 Bio and TM-HIV-2 Bio) in an ELISA.

Table 2 represents the comparison of antibody recognition of unbiotinylated and biotinylated peptides from the V3 sequence of isolate HIV-1 mn (also referred as 1b.4) in an ELISA.

Table 3 represents the comparison of antibody recognition of the biotinylated V3-mn peptide (referred to as 1b.4) bound to streptavidin and avidin, in an ELISA.

Table 4 represents the comparison of antibody recognition of biotinylated and unbiotinylated HCV peptides, in an ELISA.

More particularly:

Table 4A corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide XI.

Table 4B corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide XVI.

Table 4C corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide II.

Table 4D corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide III.

Table 4E corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide V.

Table 4F corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide IX.

Table 4G corresponds to the antibody binding to HCV peptide XVIII.

Table 5 represents a comparison of antibody binding to biotinylated and non-biotinylated peptides, at different peptide coating concentrations, in an ELISA.

Table 6 represents the comparison of N- and C-terminally biotinylated TM-HIV-1 peptide (referred to as 1a.1), in an ELISA.

Table 7 represents a comparison of antibody recognition of unbiotinylated and carboxy-biotinylated HCV peptide I.

Table 8 represents the use of mixtures of biotinylated HIV and HCV peptides for antibody detection, in an ELISA.

Table 9 represents sequences of the core epitopes of the HCV Core protein.

Table 10 represents sequences of the core epitopes of the HCV NS4 protein.

Table 11 represents sequences of the core epitopes of the HCV NS5 protein.

Table 12 represents the antibody binding of various Core, NS4, and NS5 biotinylated 20-mers by 10 test sera.

Table 13 represents the antibody recognition of individual E2/NS1 peptides (percent of all sera giving a positive reaction).

Table 14 represents the overall recognition of HIV V3-loop peptides.

Table 15 represents the recognition of HIV peptides according to the geographical region.

Table 16 represents the recognition of European, African and Brazilian HIV-1-positive sera to HIV-I V3-loop peptides V3-con and V3-368.

Table 17 represents the recognition of HIV-2 positive sera to two HIV-2 V3 loop peptides.

Table 18 represents the antibody recognition of hybrid peptides.

Table 19 represents the antibody recognition of mixed HTLV I and II peptides.

All amino acid sequences are given in the conventional and universally accepted three-letter code and where indicated in the one-letter code. The peptide sequences are given left to right which, by convention, is the direction from the amino terminus to the carboxy-terminus.

A number of unconventional codes are also used to represent chemical groups or modifications and are defined as follows:

Group Code
AC    acetyl
Bio   D-biotinyl
Fmoc  9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl
tBoc  tertiary butyloxycarbonyl

EXAMPLE 1

Peptide Synthesis

All of the peptides described were synthesized on TentaGel S-RAM (Rapp Polymere, Tübingen, Germany), a polystyrene-polyoxyethylene graft copolymerfunctionalized with the acid-labile linker4-(α-Fmoc-amino-2′,4′-dimethoxybenzyl) phenoxyaceticacid (Rink, Tetrahedron Lett. (1987) 28:3787) in order to generate peptide carboxy-terminal amides upon cleavage. t-Butyl-based side chain protection and Fmoc-α-amino-protection was used. The guanidine-group of arginine was protected with the 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman-6-sulfonyl moiety. The imidazole group of histidine was protected with either t-Boc or trityl and the sulfhydryl group of cysteine was protected with a trityl group. Couplings were carried out using preformed O-pentafluorophenyl esters except in the case of arginine where TBTU was used as the activating agent in the presence of 1.5 equivalents of the base N-methylmorpholine. Occasionally, glutamine and asparagine were also coupled using TBTU activation. In these cases, the trityl-protected derivatives of these amino acids were employed. Biotin was coupled using either TBTU or HBTU. All syntheses wee carried out on a Milligen 9050 PepSynthesizer (Novato, Calif.) using continuous flow procedures. Following cleavage with trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of scavengers and extraction with diethylether, all peptides were analyzed by C18-reverse phase chromatography.

EXAMPLE 2

Synthesis of N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-Biotin)

A. Method A

Commercially available N-α-Fmoc-L-lysine (N-ε-tBoc) (1.5 grams) was treated with 20 milliliters of 95% trifluoroacetic acid, 5% H 2 O for 2 hours at room temperature. Most of the acid was then evaporated under a stream of nitrogen. Ten milliliters of water was added and the solution was extracted 3 times with diethylether. The aqueous phase was then evaporated to dryness in vacuo over phosphorus pentoxide. The resulting powder (N-α-Fmoc-L-lysine) was analyzed by reverse phase chromatography and revealed a homogeneous product which was, as expected, more hydrophilic than the starting material.

N-α-Fmoc-lysine (190 mg, 0.49 mmol) was dissolved in 8 milliliters of 0.1 M borate buffer, pH 8.7. N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin (162 mg, 0.47 mmol) was dissolved in 4 milliliters of dimethylformamide and added to the solution of N-α-Fmoc-lysine. The pH was monitored and titrated as necessary, with NaOH. After 2 hours, the solution was acidified with HCl to pH 2.0, at which time a white precipitate was obtained.

Following extraction with ethylacetate and centrifugation, the white precipitate was found at the H2O: ethylacetate interface. Both phases were removed and the precipitate extracted twice with 10 mM HCl, once with ethylacetate, followed by two extractions with diethylether. The precipitate was dissolved in DMF and precipitated by addition of diethylether. The crystalline powder was then dried in vacuo over phosphorus pentoxide. The resulting product was analyzed by reverse phase chromatography and revealed a major peak which, as expected, eluted later than N-α-Fmoc-Lys. A very small peak of N-α-Fmoc-Lys was also observed. ( FIG. 2 a ).

B. Method B

Commercially available N-ε-biotinyl lysine (biocytin, Sigma, 249 mg, 0.67 mmol) was dissolved in 8 milliliters of 1 M Na2CO3 and cooled on ice. Fluorenylmethylsuccinimidyl carbonate (222 mg, 0.66 mmol) was dissolved in 2 milliliters of acetone and was added to the biotinyl lysine solution over a period of 30 minutes with vigorous stirring. Stirring was continued for 5 hours at room temperature. The pH was maintained between 8 and 9 by addition of 1 M Na 2 CO 3 as necessary. The acetone was then evaporated off under vacuum, and 1.0 M HCl was added until the pH of the solution was approximately 2. Upon acidification of the solution, a white precipitate appeared which was washed twice with 10 mM HCl, twice with ethyl acetate, and twice with diethylether. The precipitate was dissolved in DMF and precipitated by addition of diethylether. The crystalline powder was then thoroughly dried in vacuo over phosphorus pentoxide. The resulting product was analyzed by reverse phase chromatography and revealed a major peak which eluted with the same retention time (30.5 minutes) as the product obtained using method 1 ( FIG. 2 b ).

EXAMPLE 3

Methods for the Determination of Peptides Corresponding to Immunologically Important Epitopes in an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Using Specific Antibodies

Where peptides were to be coated directly, stock solutions of the peptides were diluted in sodium carbonate buffer, pH 9.6 and used to coat polystyrene microtiter plates at a peptide concentration of 2 to 5 micrograms per milliliter for 1 hour at 37° C.

In cases where biotinylated peptides were to be evaluated, plates were first coated with streptavidin in sodium carbonate buffer, pH 9.6 at a concentration of 3 micrograms per milliliter for 1 hour at 37° C. The plates were then washed to remove excess, unbound protein. A working solution of the biotinylated peptide at 1 microgram per milliliter in sodium carbonate buffer was then added to the wells of the microtiter plate and incubated for 1 hours at 37° C.

Once the plates had been coated with antigen, any remaining free binding sites on the plastic were blocked with casein. After washing, a dilution of the appropriate antisera, usually 1:100, was added to the wells of the plates and incubated for 1 hour at 37° C.

After washing to remove unbound material, specific antibody binding was detected by incubating the plates with goat anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies conjugated to the enzyme horseradish peroxidase. Following removal of unbound conjugate by washing, a solution containing H 2 O 2 and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine was added.

Reactions were stopped after a suitable interval by addition of sulfuric acid. Positive reactions gave rise to a yellow color which was quantified using a conventional microtiter plate reader. Absorbance measurements were made at a wavelength of 450 nanometers and all data are expressed as an optical density value at this wavelength.

EXAMPLE 4

Use of Biotinylated HIV Peptides for the Detection of HIV-specific Antibodies

Experiments were performed to evaluate antibody recognition of short, 10 amino acid-long, N-acetylated peptides corresponding to other contained within the transmembrane proteins of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Direct coating of these peptides in the wells of microtiter plates gave very poor results when antibody binding was evaluated in an ELISA. Since it was suspected that the peptides did not bind well to the polystyrene solid phase, the peptides were resynthesized in the same way except that biotin was attached to the amino terminus of the peptides, separated from the decamer peptide sequence by three glycine residues whose function it was to serve as a linker arm. The peptides used for the comparison were as follows:

TM-HIV-1:

Ac-Ile-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-Leu-Ile-Cys-NH2

TM-HIV-1 Bio

Bio-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ile-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ser-Gly-Lys-Leu-Ile-Cys-NH2

TM-HIV-2

Ac-Ser-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln-Val-Cys-NH2

TM-HIV-2 Bio

Bio-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Trp-Gly-Cys-Ala-Phe-Arg-Gln-Val-Cys-NH2

The biotinylated peptides were loaded onto microtiter plates which had been coated with streptavidin. Antibody binding to these peptides was compared to antibody binding to the unbiotinylated peptides which were coated directly onto microtiter plates. The results are shown in Table 1. It is evident that the biotinylated peptides from the HIV-1 or HIV-2 transmembrane proteins bound to streptavidin are recognized very well by antisera from HIV-1 or HIV-2 infected persons respectively. This is in contrast to the unbiotinylated versions of these peptides coated directly onto the polystyrene plates. Addition control experiments showed that the increase in antibody binding was the result of the specific interaction between the biotinylated peptide and streptavidin, since there was no difference in antibody recognition of the biotinylated or unbiotinylated peptides when both were coated directly onto the microtiter plate.

Some peptides, particularly ones which are 15 amino acids in length or longer, bind sufficiently to the solid phase to allow the detection of specific antibodies which recognize (an) epitope(s) present in the peptide sequence.

To ascertain whether biotinylated would also improve antibody recognition of longer peptides, both the biotinylated and unbiotinylated versions of the partial V3 loop sequence of isolate HIV-1 mn were synthesized. The sequence and method of synthesis of both peptides were identical except at the amino terminus. The unbiotinylated peptide was simply acetylated whereas in the biotinylated version, two glycine residues were added as a linker arm to separate the peptide from the biotinyl moiety.

The sequences of the two peptides used are as follows:

unbiotinylated V3 mn peptide

Ac-Tyr-Asn-Lys-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ile-His-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Lys-Asn-Ile-Ile-Gly-NH2,

biotinylated V3 mn peptide (peptide 1b.4) Bio-Gly-Gly-Tyr-Asn-Lys-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ile-His-Ile-Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg-Ala-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Thr-Lys-Asn-Ile-Ile-Gly-NH2.

The unbiotinylated peptide was coated directly onto the wells of a polystyrene microtiter plate while the biotinylated peptide was bound to wells which had previously been coated with streptavidin. The results shown in Table 2 demonstrate that antibody binding to the biotinylated peptide is superior to antibody binding to peptide coated directly onto the plastic.

EXAMPLE 5

Use of Biotinylated Peptides—Avidin Complexes for Antibody Detection

Having demonstrated that antibody recognition of this peptide is improved when the peptide is biotinylated and bound to streptavidin, an additional experiment was performed to determine whether streptavidin could be substituted by avidin. The results shown in Table 3 indicate that this is the case and that biotinylated peptides bound to avidin are recognized very efficiently by specific antibodies.

EXAMPLE 6

Use of Biotinylated HCV Peptides for Detection of HCV Specific Antibodies

In order to determine whether the enhanced antibody recognition of biotinylated peptides was a general phenomenon, a number of additional twenty amino acid-long peptides were synthesized which correspond to sequences derived from the hepatitis C virus (HCV) polyprotein. The amino acid sequences evaluated were as follows:

a. HCV peptide XI

Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys

b. HCV peptide XVI

Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Gln-Ala-Leu-Pro-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn

c. HCV peptide II

Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly

d. HCV peptide III

Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gln-Ile-Val-Gly

e. HCV peptide V

Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val

f. HCV peptide IX

Ile-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln

g. HCV peptide XVIII

Glu-Thr-Trp-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Pro-Val-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro

In each case, two versions of the peptide were synthesized. In the unbiotinylated version, the peptide was acetylated at the amino terminus. The biotinylated versions were all N-terminally biotinylated. A linker arm consisting of two glycine residues separated the biotinyl moiety from the amino acids comprising the HCV sequence.

The unbiotinylated peptides were adsorbed onto the wells of polystyrene microtiter plates at a concentration of 3 micrograms per milliliter.

The biotinylated peptides were bound at a concentration of 1 microgram per milliliter to streptavidin-coated microtiter plates. Sera known to contain antibodies to these peptides were used for the evaluation and were tested to a 20-fold dilution. The results of these comparisons are shown in Table 4, a to g.

These results clearly indicate that antibody recognition of biotinylated peptides bound to streptavidin is enhanced relative to that of peptides coated directly onto the wells of the microtiter plate.

EXAMPLE 7

Influence of Coating Concentration on Antibody Detection

To investigate further the enhanced antibody recognition of biotinylated HCV peptides bound to streptavidin or avidin as compared to direct adsorption on plastic, the influence of peptide coating concentration was investigated. Three peptides (HCV peptides II, XI, and XVI) were coated in concentrations ranging from 10 nanograms per milliliter to 3 micrograms per milliliter in a volume of 200 microliters per microtiter plate well. For direct coating, the unbiotinylated versions of these peptides were used. The biotinylated versions of these peptides were used to coat wells to which streptavidin had previously been adsorbed. Sera known to contain antibodies to these peptides were used at a dilution of 1 to 100 to evaluate the magnitude of antibody binding.

The numerical results of this experiment are shown in Table 5 and are depicted graphically in FIG. 3 , a-c.

It is evident that with few exceptions, the biotinylated peptide is recognized very well even at the lowest concentration tested (10 nanograms per milliliter, 2 nanograms per well). In many cases, optical density values close to the maximum attainable are observed at a peptide concentration of only 30 nanograms per milliliter (6 nanograms per well). In contrast, however, the unbiotinylated peptides adsorbed directly onto the plastic are poorly bound by antibody, if at all.

EXAMPLE 8

Influence of Biotinylation of Peptides on Coating Efficiency of the Peptides on a Solid Phase

To determine if the absence of a signal was due to lack of peptide adsorption when the peptides were coated directly, an additional experiment was performed. In this case, the biotinylated versions of the peptides were coated directly onto the plastic at the same concentrations used in the previous experiment for the unbiotinylated versions. To ascertain whether biotin-labeled peptide was bound, the microtiter plates were incubated with a streptavidin: horseradish peroxidase conjugate. Since each peptide contains a single biotinyl group, the resulting optical densities are a measure of the amount of peptide bound, although the absolute amount of bound peptide is not known. The results presented graphically in FIG. 4 demonstrate that plastic-bound peptide can be detected. As expected, the curves are different for each peptide which is a reflection of their chemical uniqueness. Two of the peptides, HCV peptides XI and XVI, appear to bind only weakly to the wells of the polystyrene microtiter plate and this poor binding is reflected in the low optical density values obtained in the ELISA. Since the binding of the biotinylated peptides to streptavidin-coated wells results in very good antibody recognition, it is obvious that poor binding of the peptide to the solid phase is not a limitation when use is made of interaction between biotin and streptavidin.

On the other hand, one of the peptides, HCV peptide II, shows very significant binding to the solid phase, particularly at higher coating concentrations. However, at no coating concentration did the signal obtained when the peptide was coated directly ever equal the signal obtained when the biotinylated peptide was bound to streptavidin. Since even at the lowest concentration tested, the streptavidin-bound biotinylated versions of this peptide clearly gives a positive signal with the antisera tested, the results would seem to indicate either that the direct coating of this peptide is extraordinarily inefficient or that other factors are important besides the simple binding of peptide to the solid phase.

Although difficult to quantify, one of the factors almost certainly involves the manner in which the peptide is bound and available for antibody binding. In the case of peptides coated directly onto the solid phase, it is virtually inevitable that some proportion of the peptide molecules will interact with the solid phase through amino acid side chains which are also essential for antibody recognition. These peptide molecules will therefore be unable to participate in the binding reaction with antibodies. This problem is not encountered with the biotinylated peptides which are all bound to the solid phase through the interaction between biotin and the solid phase-bound streptavidin.

EXAMPLE 9

Use of C-terminally Biotinylated HIV Peptides for Specific Antibody Recognition

In order to determine whether the peptides biotinylated at their carboxy-terminus also give use to enhanced antibody recognition, a carboxy-biotinylated version of the TM-HIV-1 peptide was synthesized. N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) prepared by method A as described was coupled directly to resin functionalized with the acid labile linker 4-(α-Fmoc-amino-2′,4′-dimethoxybenzyl) phenoxyacetic acid after removal of the linker-bound Fmoc group with 20 percent piperidine. The coupling was performed using a 3-fold molar excess of N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) relative to resin functional groups. Carboxyl group activation was achieved using one equivalent of HBTU, one equivalent of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole and 1.5 equivalents of N-methylmorpholine. N-methyl morpholine was dispensed as a 0.6 M solution in dimethylformamide containing 40 percent dimethylsulfoxide which was necessary to achieve complete dissolution of the N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin). Inspection of the Fmoc deprotection peak following coupling of the N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) indicated that coupling had proceeded smoothly and efficiently. Two glycine residues were coupled to separate the biotinyl lysine from the TM-HIV-1 amino acid sequence. Following synthesis of the peptide, the amino terminus was acetylated with acetic anhydride. The resulting structure of the carboxy-biotinylated peptide differs significantly from the peptide biotinylated at the amino terminus. A comparison of these structures is shown in FIG. 5 .

In order to evaluate antibody recognition of these two peptides, the peptides were bound individually to streptavidin-coated microtiter plates and tested using a panel of antisera from HIV-1 seropositive donors. The results of this comparison is shown in Table 6. Clearly, antibody recognition of the C-terminally biotinylated peptide compares very favorably with that of the N-terminally biotinylated peptide. These results also confirm the utility of the reagent N-α-Fmoc-Lys (N-ε-biotin) for carboxy-terminal biotinylation.

EXAMPLE 10

Comparison of Antibody Recognition of HCV Peptide I, Coated Directly (Unbiotinylated) or Bound to Streptavidin-coated Plated (Carboxy-terminal Biotinylation)

A similar experiment was performed using a peptide which binds relatively well to polystyrene ELISA plates in order to determine whether the carboxy-biotinylated form of the peptide would result in superior antibody recognition relative to the unbiotinylated form of the peptide. The peptide chosen was HCV peptide I, which was synthesized in the following versions:

a. unbiotinylated version:

H2N-Met-Ser-Thr-Ile-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-CONH2

b. carboxy-biotinylated version:

H2N-Met-Ser-Thr-Ile-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Gly-Gly-Lys(Bio)-CONH2.

A spacer consisting of two glycine residues was added at the carboxy-terminus to physically separate the HCV portion of the peptide proper from the Lys(N-ε-Bio). Synthesis was performed on resin functionalized with 4-(α-Fmoc-amino-2′,4′-dimethoxybenzyl) phenoxyacetic acid linker in order to generate carboxy-terminal amides upon cleavage. Coupling of the N-α-Fmoc-Lys-(N-ε-biotin) to the linker was performed using a 3-fold molar excess of the intermediate product relative to the linker. Activation of the N-α-Fmoc-Lys(N-ε-biotin) was achieved using one equivalent of TBTU, one equivalent of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole, and 1.5 equivalents of N-methylmorpholine. The coupling of all other amino acids was performed according to conventional protocols. Following cleavage of the peptides in trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of the appropriate scavengers, the peptides were precipitated and extracted with diethylether.

Unbiotinylated HCV peptide I was coated directly onto the wells of a polystyrene ELISA plate at a concentration of 3 micrograms per milliliter in sodium carbonate buffer, pH 9.6. Biotinylated HCV peptide I was bound to streptavidin-coated wells using a stock solution containing the peptide at a concentration of 1 microgram per milliliter. The resulting plates were then incubated in parallel with a panel of sera from HCV-seropositive donors. The results of this comparison are shown in Table 7. The biotinylated peptide clearly gives superior results relative to the unbiotinylated version of the same sequence. Two of the sera (8326 and 8244) recognize the biotinylated version of this peptide far better than the unbiotinylated version. The specificity of the antibody reaction is also reflected by the low optical density values obtained for 5 serum samples from uninfected donors (F88, F89, F76, F136, and F6).

EXAMPLE 11

Use of Mixtures of Biotinylated HIV and HCV Peptides

In many cases, the use of mixtures of peptides is required to give the desired result. Mixtures of peptides may be used for the detection of antibodies directed against one or more proteins of a single virus, or for the detection of antibodies directed against proteins of several viruses in a single test. Such tests are considered particularly advantageous for the screening of blood donations for their suitability for use in transfusions and as a source of blood products. In such cases, ELISA plates or other solid supports coated with suitable mixtures of peptides may be used to screen samples for the presence of antibodies to one or more infectious agents whose presence would render the sample unsuitable for use. For the diagnosis of specific infectious agents, appropriate mixtures of peptides are required in order to obtain accurate determinations. Antibodies to individual viral antigens derived from one or more infectious agents may be individually detected and identified simultaneously when use is made of test systems in which individual peptides or mixtures of peptides are bound to the solid phase but are physically separated as they are, for example, in the line immunoassay, such that individual reactions can be observed and evaluated. Such tests require the use of an appropriate combination of peptide mixtures to achieve the desired result.

It is frequently preferable to use mixtures of peptides rather than a single peptide for the diagnosis of ongoing or past infections. Since individual responses to single epitopes may be quite variable, more reliable results are often obtained when several immunologically important epitopes are present in the antibody test. However, since each peptide is chemically unique, it is frequently difficult to incorporate all of the desired peptides into one test, particularly when the peptides are to be coated directly onto the solid phase. Not all peptides are capable of binding to the solid phase and the peptides in the mixture may also exhibit very different optimal coating conditions in terms of pH, ionic strength, and buffer composition.

To determine how well biotinylated peptides would function in a mixture when bound to streptavidin- or avidin-coated plates, two mixtures were made of the N-terminally biotinylated versions of the HIV-1 peptides TM-HIV-1 (hereabove referred to as 1a.1) and V3-mn (hereabove referred to as 1b.4), the HIV-2 peptide TM-HIV-2 (hereabove referred to as 2a), and the hepatitis C virus peptides II, IX, and XVIII. Mixture A contained each of the six biotinylated peptides at a concentration of 1 microgram per milliliter (6 micrograms per milliliter peptide, total) while in mixture B, each peptide was present at a concentration of 0.1 microgram per milliliter (0.6 microgram per milliliter peptide, total). The individual peptides were coated at a concentration of 1 microgram per milliliter. For purposes of comparison, mixtures A and B were also coated directly onto the wells of a microtiter plate. Samples from HIV-1, HIV-2, and HCV-seropositive donors were tested and compared to sera from seronegative blood donors. A cut-off absorbance value of 0.250 was used to determine whether a reaction was positive or negative. Absorbance values equal or greater than 0.250 were considered positive while absorbance values below this value were considered negative. The results of this experiment are shown in Table 8.

Based on the reactions to the individual peptides, all of the HCV serum samples were negative for antibodies to either HIV-1 or HIV-2. One HIV-2 sample (no. 1400) had antibodies to HCV peptide XVIII. Of the HIV samples tested, there was no indication of cross reactivity and the ELISA based on individual peptides is specific.

Both mixtures A and B gave good results when bound to avidin-coated microtiter plates. As expected, these mixtures were recognized by HIV-1, HIV-2, and HCV-positive sera but not by sera from seronegative blood donors. In contrast, when these mixtures were coated directly onto the microtiter plates, the results were considerably less satisfactory, with many samples giving a reaction which fell below the cut-off value applied. These results serve to illustrate quite convincingly the enhanced immunological recognition of biotinylated peptides bound to avidin as compared to peptides coated directly onto the solid phase as well as the advantages of using mixtures of peptides for multiple antibody detection.

EXAMPLE 12

Use of Biotinylated Peptides for Mapping of Epitopes in Diagnostically Useful Regions of HCV

It was demonstrated in Example 6 that several diagnostically important regions of the HCV polyprotein, such as Core, NS4, and NS5, can be identified using overlapping 20-mer biotinylated peptides. Extensive serological testing identified the most useful 20-mer biotinylated peptides which permitted to develop a line immunoassay utilizing these biotinylated peptides. However, it was desirable to know more exactly where in these 20 amino acid-long sequences the epitopes were located. One reason is that, if shorter sequences could be identified, it would be possible to make synthetic peptides containing two or three epitopes without the peptide becoming prohibitively long.

Epitopes present in a position of the putative HCV proteins were mapped using the method originally described by Geysen, H. M., Meloen, R. H., and Barteling, S. J.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1984) 81:3998-4002. Consecutive peptides nine amino acids in length with an eight amino acid overlap were synthesized on polyethylene pins derivatized with a non-cleavable linker. This peptide length was chosen because it is larger than the size of typical linear epitopes which are generally between 5 and 7 amino acids in length. By synthesizing 9-mers, the probability that epitopes would be missed was minimized.

The regions in the HCV polyprotein which were scanned contain Core sequences (aa. 1 to 80), NS4 (aa. 1688 to 1755), and NS5 (aa. 2191 to 2330). These regions correspond to the previously determined 20-mers: Peptide I to VII (Core 1 to 13), Peptide VIII to XIV (NS4-1 to 9), and peptide XV to XIX (NS5-13to 33).

Following synthesis, all peptides were N-acylated prior to side chain deprotection in order to remove the unnatural positive charge at the amino terminus.

The peptides were then assayed for their ability to be recognized by antibodies present in sera from HCV seropositive donors. The results of these experiments are shown in FIGS. 6 a to 6 b. The optical density values shown are the average of duplicate determinations and have been assigned to the first amino acid of the 9-mer sequence.

The antibody binding profiles for 10 different HCV sera are shown in FIG. 6 a. It is clear that the core protein of HCV presents well-defined linear epitopes which are readily stimulated by synthetic peptides. At least superficially, most sera appear to give very similar patterns. Closer inspection, however, reveals that there are individual differences. The various regions of the HCV core protein which are recognized by antibodies are perhaps more properly termed epitopic clusters rather than epitopes as such, since each region is undoubtedly composed of several overlapping epitopes which are difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish using polyclonal sera. An attempt was made to identify core epitopes in each of the epitopic clusters. Used in this sense, the word “core” refers to the minimal amino acid sequence recognizable by antibodies. It should be emphasized, however, that amino acids in addition to the core sequence may improve reactivity particularly in the case of polyclonal sera. An analysis of the epitopes is given in Table 9. By comparing the reactions of the various sera, subdomains of epitopic clusters could be identified. Some sera react predominantly with one subdomain and not with others, while other sera recognize all of the subdomains but still allow the subdomains to be distinguished because each forms a shoulder in the large peak which defines that particular epitopic clusters. Table 9 and FIG. 7 a shows the locations of the core epitopes with respect to the sequences of the 20-mers.

The series of 9-mers corresponding to each of the 20-mer Core peptides are shown in FIG. 7 a together with the placement of each of these sequences in relation to an antibody recognition profile for one of the antisera tested.

The antigenic profiles for the NS4 protein obtained with the 10 sera are shown in FIG. 6 b. In general, the reaction of these sera with the 9-mers was less pronounced than with the peptides from the Core protein. It was, nevertheless, still possible to identify epitopic regions in the N-terminal sequences of the viral NS4 protein. The core sequences of these epitopes are analyzed in Table 10 and show their relation to the 20-mer synthetic peptides which are diagnostically important in this region. The 9-mers corresponding to the different 20-mers are shown in FIG. 7 b together with their placement in relation to an example of an antigenic profile. It can be seen that the 20-mers correspond quite well to the epitopes in this region.

The portion of the NS5 protein which was scanned corresponds to the region covered by the 20-mer peptides 13 to 33. The antigenic profiles obtained in this region are shown in FIG. 6 c. Again, an attempt was made to define core epitopes and these are listed in Table 11. Little antibody binding was observed in the amino terminal portion of this sequence. In FIG. 7 c, the 9-mers corresponding to the 20-mer peptides NS5-21 to NS5-31 are listed and their positions are shown relative to one of the antigenic profiles.

In particular, it is apparent that, the importance of the sequence represented by HCV peptide XVI (NS5-27) would be severely underestimated based on the results obtained with the overlapping 9-mers. The importance of this sequence would also be underestimated if unbiotinylated HCV peptide XVI (NS5-27) were evaluated in an ELISA following direct coating onto the microtiter plate (see Table 4B). However, the biotinylated version of this peptide when bound to streptavidin- or avidin-coated plates reveals the presence of a very important epitope which is of diagnostic value.

In contrast to the often weak binding observed with the 9-mers, the binding with the 20-mers was frequently quite strong (see table 12). In several cases the differences are dramatic. For example, serum 8241 does not recognize any of the 9-mers, whereas the binding to the peptides HCV2 (peptide IX) and HCV5 (peptide XI) is very strong. Moderate binding was also observed to the peptide HCV7 (peptide XIII). This would seem to indicate that there is an important structural component to these epitopes which is present in the 20-mers but which is absent in the 9-mers.

EXAMPLE 13

Use of Biotinylated Peptides for Identification of Epitopes in the N-terminus of NS1 Region of HCV Line Immunoassay

Epitopes can also be identified using the line immunoassay (LIA). In general, unbiotinylated peptides bind better to nylon membranes than to polystyrene ELISA plates. Nevertheless, biotinylated peptides complexed with streptavidin or avidin give superior results in the line immunoassay than do their unbiotinylated counterparts bound directly to the membrane. In order to illustrate this, unbiotinylated and N-terminally biotinylated versions of HCV peptides XXg-1 and XXg-2 were synthesized. The unbiotinylated peptides were applied to the membrane as a stock solution containing 100 micrograms per milliliter peptide, whereas the biotinylated peptides were bound to streptavidin and applied as a stock solution of 100 micrograms per milliliter complex. The amount of biotinylated peptide in the stock solution was therefore approximately 10 micrograms per milliliter. Three human IgG control lines were also applied to the strips in order to assist in evaluating the intensity of the reactions. Following application of the antigen lines, excess binding sites on the membrane were blocked with casein in phosphate-buffered saline. The membrane was subsequently cut into strips perpendicular to the direction in which the antigen lines were applied and the resulting strips were incubated with a panel of sera from HCV-seropositive donors. Bound antibody was detected visually using goat anti-human IgG antibodies conjugated to the enzyme alkaline phosphatase after addition of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate and Nitro Blue tetrazolium. The results are shown in FIG. 8 .

The specificity of the reactions is demonstrated by the absence of detectable antibody binding to any of the HCV peptides by three sera (33, 34, and 35) obtained from HCV-seronegative donors. The reactions of sera 1 to 32 to the unbiotinylated HCV peptides XX-1 and XX-2 are generally absent or exceedingly weak. In contrast, many of the sera tested recognized the biotinylated versions of these peptides when complexed to streptavidin. The antibody reactions to the biotinylated peptides are significantly stronger in spite of the fact that only approximately one-tenth the amount of peptide was present in these stock solutions compared to the amount present in the stock solutions of the unbiotinylated peptides. The results obtained using the biotinylated peptides demonstrate the presence of a diagnostically useful epitope in these peptide sequences which is not evident when the unbiotinylated versions of the peptides are used.

A total of 8 sequences spanning the hypervariable N-terminus of the HCV E2-NS1 region (aa 383 to 416 of the HCV polyprotein) of different HCV isolates were chosen for further evaluation. These aligned sequences (One-letter code) are as following:

XXa GETYTSGGAASHTTSTLASLFSPGASQRIQLVNT (1)

XXb GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT (2)

XXc GHTRVTGGVQGHVTCTLTSLFRPGASQKIQLVNT (3)

XXd GHTHVTGGRVASSTQSLVSWLSQGPSQKIQLVNT (4)

XXe GDTHVTGGAQAKTTNRLVSMFASGPSQKIQLINT (5)

XXf AETYTSGGNAGHTMTGIVRFFAPGPKQNVHLINT (6)

XXg AETIVSGGQAARAMSGLVSLFTPGAKQNIQLINT (7)

XXh AETYTTGGSTARTTQGLVSLFSRGAKQDIQLINT (8)

These sequences are derived from isolates described by the following groups:

(1) Hijikata et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 175:220-228, 1991.

(2) unpublished results

(3) Hijikata et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 175:220-228, 1991.

(4) Kato et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. sci. USA 87:9524-9528, 1990.

(5) Takamizawa et al., J. Virology 65:1105-1113, 1991.

(6) Weiner et al., Virology 180:842-848, 1991.

(7) Okamoto et al., Japan. J. Exptl. Med. 60:167-177, 1990.

(8) Kremsdorfl et al., Abstract V64, Third International Symposium on HCV, Strasbourg, France, September, 1991.

Since the sequences are rather long and because secondary structure—related difficulties were predicted to occur during synthesis, it was decided to split the sequences into two overlapping parts (“a”=amino acids 383 to 404 and “b”=amino acid 393 to 416 of the HCV polyprotein).

XXaa GETYTSGGAASHTTSTLASLFS (SEQ ID NO: 406)

XXab SHTTSTLASLFSPGASQRIQLVNT (SEQ ID NO: 407)

XXba GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFS (SEQ ID NO: 408)

XXbb ASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT (SEQ ID NO: 409)

XXca GHTRVTGGVQGHVTCTLTSLFR (SEQ ID NO: 410)

XXcb GHVTCTLTSLFRPGASQKIQLVNT (SEQ ID NO: 411)

XXda GHTHVTGGRVASSTQSLVSWLS (SEQ ID NO: 412)

XXdb ASSTQSLVSWLSQGPSQKIQLVNT (SEQ ID NO: 413)

XXea GDTHVTGGAQAKTTNRLVSMFA (SEQ ID NO: 414)

XXeb AKTTNRLVSMFASGPSQKIQLINT (SEQ ID NO: 415)

XXfa AETYTSGGNAGHTMTGIVRFFA (SEQ ID NO: 416)

XXfb GHTMTGIVRFFAPGPKQNVHLINT (SEQ ID NO: 417)

XXga AETIVSGGQAARAMSGLVSLFT (SEQ ID NO: 418)

XXgb ARAMSGLVSLFTPGAKQNIQLINT (SEQ ID NO: 419)

XXha AETYTTGGSTARTTQGLVSLFS (SEQ ID NO: 420)

XXhb ARTTQGLVSLFSRGAKQDIQLINT (SEQ ID NO: 421)

Subdividing the sequence also allows the position of the epitopes to be more accurately defined.

All of the peptides were N-terminally biotinylated, complexed with streptadivin and used to prepare LIA-strips (data not shown).

When only the LIA-positive samples are considered, the detection rate on the E2/NS1 peptides was found to be on the order of 90 percent. The correlations between recognition of the E2/NS1 peptides and LIA reactivity as well as the scores for the individual peptides are shown in Table 13. It was also clear from the observed reactions that the primary epitope in this sequence is located towards the carboxyterminus of the hypervariable region. There wer exceptions to this, however. Each serum appeared to have its own recognition pattern which underscores the importance of using a mixture of different sequences if this epitope is to be included as a line in the LIA. It would also appear that either there is a considerable degree of crossreactivity between the type 1a and type 1b sequences, or that most people are doubly infected. It is a simple matter to distinguish between these two possibilities by selectively removing the antibodies which bind to one sequence and looking to see what the effect is on antibody recognition of the other sequences. A number of samples gave a rather weak reaction to one or more E2/NS1 peptides but were LIA negative. While most probably false positive reactions, these sera may also be from people who where previously infected but who have resolved the infection.

EXAMPLE 14

Use of Combined HCV Peptides from the Core Region of HCV for the Detection of Antibodies by LIA

In order to reduce the overall number of peptides in a HCV ELISA or LIA, biotinylated peptides can be synthesize which span other immunologically important peptides. Examples of such “combined” HCV peptides from the core protein NS3 region of HCV are given below:

             Sequence
Core 1 (I)   MSTIPKPQRKTKRNTNRRPQ (SEQ ID NO: 133)
Core 2 (II)  PKPQRKTKRNTNRRP (SEO ID NO: 134)
Core 3 (III) RNTNRRPQDVKFPGGGQIVG (SEQ ID NO: 135)
Core 123     MSTIPKPQRKTKRNTNRRPQDVKFPGGGQIVG (SEQ ID NO: 136)
Core 6 (IVa) VGGVYLLPRROPRLGVRATR (SEO ID NO: 137)
Core 7 (IV)  LPRRGPRLGVRATRKTSERS (SEQ ID NO: 138)
Core 9 (V)   TRKTSERSQPRGRRQPIPKV (SEQ ID NO: 139)
Core 10 (VI) RSQPRGRRQPIPKVRRPEGR (SEO ID NO: 140)
Core 7910    GGVYLLPRRGPRLGVRATRKTSERSQPRGRRQPIPKVRR (SEQ ID NO: 141)

All of these peptides have been provided with a Gly—Gly spacers and a biotin at the amino terminus. The peptides were evaluated in a line immunoassay experiment (LIA) and compared to the shorter core peptides. The results are shown in FIG. 9 . The longer core peptides compare very favorably to the shorter peptides and consistently give a more intense reaction. This is could be explained if (i) the longer peptides incorporate two or more epitopes which were previously spread over two separate peptides and/or (2) there is any conformational contribution which may be more prominent in the longer peptides.

EXAMPLE 15

Use of Combined HCV Peptides from the NS4 and NS5 Regions of HCV for the Detection of Antibodies by LIA

Other peptides combine sequences in NS4 and NS5 which are as following (SEQ ID NOs:142-147, respectively):

Peptide      Sequence
NS4-5 (XI)   S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K
NS4-7 (XIII) L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A
NS4-57       S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A
NS5-25XV)    E D E R E I S V P A E I L R K S R R F A
NS5-27 (XVI) L R K S R R F A Q A L P V W A R P D Y N
NS5-2527     E D E R E I S V P A E I L R K S R R F A Q A L P V W A R P D Y N

The general advantage in using the longer peptides lies in the fact that their use in an ELISA or LIA leaves more space for the incorporation of other peptides carrying immunologically important epitopes.

EXAMPLE 16

Use of Type-specific HCV NS4 Peptides for the Detection of Antibodies by LIA

Equivalent peptides containing HCV type 2 and type 3 NS4 sequences which correspond to the type 1 peptides found to contain epitopes in NS4 were synthesized. The sequences of these peptides are shown below for comparison (SEQ ID NOs:154-162, respectively):

Peptide   Sequence
NS4-1 (1) L S G K P A I I P D R E V L Y R E F D E
NS4-1 (2) V N Q R A V V A P D K E V L Y E A F D E
NS4-5 (1) S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K
NS4-5 (2) A S R A A L I E E G Q R I A E M L K S K
NS4-7 (1) L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A
NS4-7 (2) I A E M L K S K I Q G L L Q Q A S K Q A

LIA strips were prepared using these nine peptides which were subsequently incubated with different sera. The results are shown in FIG. 10 . Two of the sera which were previously negative on type 1 NS4 peptides gave a positive reaction to the type 3 and type 2 peptides. This indicates that it is possible to increase the NS4 detection rate using these peptides.

EXAMPLE 17

Use of Biotinylated Peptides from the V3 Loop Region of GP120 of Different HIV-1 Isolates in a Line Immunoassay for the Detection of HIV Antibodies

In order to determine the general diagnostic value of the V3 loop region of gp120, nine peptides derived from this region of nine different HIV-1 isolates were synthesized and included in a LIA. All nine peptides were provided with a Gly—Gly spacer and an N-terminal biotin. The aligned peptides (one-letter amino acid code) sequences are as following:

	CON	NNTRKSIHI--GPGRAFYTTGEIIG	23
	SF2	NNTRKSIYI--GPGRAFHTTGRIIG	23
	SC	NNTTRSIHI--GPGRAFYATGDIIG	23
	MN	YNKRKRIHI--GPGRAFYTTKNIIG	23
	RF	NNTRKSITK--GPGRVIYATGQIIG	23
	MAL	NNTRRGIHF--GPGQALYTTG-IVG	22
	BH	NNTRKSIRIQRGPGRAFVTIGKI-G	24
	ELI	QNTRQRTPI--GLGQSLYTT-RSRS	22
	ANT70	QIDIQEMRI--GP-MAWTSMG-IGG	21

The peptides were mixed with streptavidin in a slight molar excess over biotin binding sites and the peptide:streptavidin complexes were separated from unbound material over Sephadex G-25. Material eluting in the void volume was used in the preparation of the LIA.

A total of 332 sera were tested which had been obtained from various geographical regions. Since it is known that virus strains isolated in Europe or North America exhibit less strain-to-strain variability than African isolates, geographical differences in the V3-loop sequence recognition were to be expected. The reactions of the various lines were evaluated as positive (i) or negative (o) (data not shown).

A complete evaluation of the sera is given in Table 14. In total, 307 of the 332 sera gave a reaction to at least one peptide on the V3-loop LIA. Those sera which failed to give a reaction to any peptide on the V3-loop LIA were tested by Western Blot to determine whether the sera were indeed positive for anti- HIV-I antibodies. It was found that 6 sera were in fact negative. The total number of positive sera tested was therefore 326. There were, however, 19 sera which contained antibodies to gp120 which failed to react with any of the V3-loop LIA, the percentage of sera giving a positive reaction was, in global terms, 94%. There were, however, significant geographical differences. These differences are shown in Table 15.

The total percentage of sera from the different geographical regions giving at least one positive reaction can be summarized as follows:

European  100%
African   94%
Brazilian 92%

Additional evaluations with European samples indicate that this percentage is, in fact, some what less than 100% (data not shown). African samples which failed to give a reaction in the LIA have not been tested by Western Blot to confirm the presence of other HIV antibodies.

That the European sera would score well as expected. The lower score obtained for the African sera was also not totally unexpected, since it is known that there is more viral heterogeneity in Africa. Since V3-loop sequences of African strains of HIV have not been as extensively characterized as the European or North American strains, it is clear that we either do not have a representative sequence, or that attempting to characterize African strains in terms of a consensus sequence is not possible exercise since there is too much sequence divergence. The results obtained with the Brazilian sera were unexpected since nothing has ever been reported concerning HIV variability in Brazil. From these results, it appears that the situation in Brazil more closely resembles the situation in Africa and not the situation in North America or Europe.

EXAMPLE 18

Improved Detection of HIV-1 Anti-V3 Domain Antibodies in Brazilian Sera Using a V3 Sequence Derived From a Brazilian Isolate.

Brazilian serum samples which failed to recognize any HIV-1 V3 loop sequences present on the previously described LIA strips but which were positive for antibodies which recognized the HIV-1 gp120 protein on Western blots were selected for further study. In one of these samples, V3 loop sequences of virus present in the serum sample could be amplified using the polymerase chain reaction using primers derived from the more constant regions flanking the hypervariable domain. The resulting DNA fragment was subsequently cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined. A peptide corresponding to the deduced amino acid sequence encoded by this fragment was synthesized and tested for its ability to be recognized by various HIV-1 antibody-positive sera. The sequence of this peptide was as follows:

Peptide V3-368:

Asn Asn Thr Arg Arg Gly Ile His Met Gly Trp Gly Arg Thr Phe Tye Ala Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly

A spacer consisting of two glycine residues was added to the amino terminus. Thereafter, the resulting N-terminal glycine residue was biotinylated. The ability of European, African, and Brazilian HIV-1 antibody-positive sera to recognize this peptide was investigated and compared to the ability of these same sera to recognize the consensus sequence peptide in an ELISA. The two peptides were also evaluated together as a mixture. These results are summarized in table 16. These results demonstrate that with sera of European or African origin, the V3-368 peptide does not result in an increased anti-V3 loop antibody detection over that which is observed with the V3con peptide. In contrast, the use of the V3-368 peptide results in a marked improvement in V3 antibody detection with Brazilian sera. Although this peptide is recognized less frequently than the V3con peptide, the two peptides complement each other to raise the detection rate from 83.1 percent using the V3con peptide alone to 97.2 percent when the two peptides are used together.

EXAMPLE 19

Antibody Recognition of HIV-2 V3 loop sequences

The outer membrane glycoprotein of HIV-2 (gp105) is similar to that of HIV-1 with respect to its organization. Like the gp120 protein of HIV-1, the gp105 protein of HIV-2 consists of domains of variable sequence flanked by domains of relatively conserved amino acid sequence. In order to detect antibodies specific for the V3 domain of HIV-2 produced in response to infection by this virus, biotinylated peptides were synthesized corresponding to the V3 sequences of the HIV-2/SIV isolates GB12 and isolate SIV mm 239 (Boeri, E., Giri, A., Lillo, F. et al.; J. Virol. (1992) 66(7):4546-4550). The sequences of the peptides synthesized are as follows:

V3-GB12:

Asn Lys Thr Val Val Pro Ile Thr Leu Met Ser Gly Leu Val Phe His Ser Gln Pro Ile Asn Lys

V3-239:

Asn Lys Thr Val Leu Pro Val Thr Ile Met Ser Gly Leu Val Phe His Ser Gln Pro Ile Asn Asp

Two glycine residues were added at the N-terminus of each peptide to serve as a spacer and a biotin was coupled to the α-amino group of the resulting N-terminal glycine. The peptides were bound to streptavidin and coated in the wells of microwell plates. HIV-2 antibody-positive sera were used to evaluate these two peptides in an ELISA. These results are summarized in Table 17. The results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of these two peptide sequences for the diagnosis of HIV-2 infection.

EXAMPLE 20

Localization of the Epitope at the Carboxy Terminus of C-100 with Biotinylated Peptides

There have been various reports of an epitope located towards the carboxy-terminal portion of the C-100 protein (EP-A-0 468 527, EP-A-484 787). Reactivity of certain sera toward this epitope and not to epitopes located within the 5-1-1 fragment could explain why these sera give a positive reaction on C-100 but not to the above-described peptides described in the above-mentioned examples. The five overlapping biotinylated peptides synthesized NS4-a, b, c, d and e are shown in FIG. 11 and cover the carboxy-terminus of C-100 except for the last three amino acids. LIA strips prepared with these peptides were tested using a series of HCV Ab-positive and negative sera. The results of this experiment (data not shown) are summarized below:

Peptide	Nr. of reactive sera	Percentage
NS4-a	0	0%
NS4-b	2	3%
NS4-c	0	0%
NS4-d	0	0%
NS4-e	16	27%

EXAMPLE 21

Use of Biotinylated Hybrid Peptides containing Epitopes from different HCV proteins

A fine mapping of the epitopes in the immunologically most important regions of the HCV polyprotein using 9-mers was performed as illustrated in Example 12. Using this information, 3 peptide sequences were devised which consisted of three 9-mer stretches of HCV sequence separated by 2 amino acid-long spacers. In general, Gly-Gly, Gly-Ser or Ser-Gly spacers were used to provide chain flexibility. The arrangement of the epitopes in the three hybrid peptides synthesized and their sequences are shown in FIG. 12 . The three peptides were evaluated on a LIA strip. In the first evaluation, the sera originally used for the epitope fine mapping experiments were used since the precise interactions of these sera with the epitopes is known. These results are shown in FIG. 13 and are summarized in Table 16. The order in which the epitopes were incorporated into these three hybrid peptides was arbitrary. It is advantageous, however, to link the epitopes together in a limited number of peptide chains rather than attempting to develop a test based on individual 9-mers. The use of separate 9-mers would rapidly saturate the streptavidin binding sites on the plate (one biotin binding site/9-mer) whereas incorporating the 9-mers into a limited number of peptides as was done in these experiments would enable one to bind 3 times as much (one biotin binding site/three 9-mers).

EXAMPLE 22

E2/NSl “b” Sequence Mixotope Peptides

The results using synthetic peptides (see Examples above) have indicated that most HCV seropositive sera contain antibodies directed towards the hypervariable N-terminus of E2/NSl. However, because of the hypervariable nature of this region of the protein, it is necessary to use a rather wide spectrum of sequences in order to detect these antibodies in an acceptably high percentage of sera. Analysis of available sequences revealed that the observed amino acid substitutions were not entirely random and that certain amino acids were preferred in certain positions within the sequence. Since the hypervariable sequence is rather long, this sequence who divided into two overlapping portions (“a” and “b”) to improve the quality of the product and simplify the synthesis. Subdividing this region also permitted the determination of that the portion of this N-terminal segment of the E2/NSl protein which was most frequently recognized by antibodies was located in the region encompassed by the “b” versions of these sequences. Given the sequence information shown in FIG. 14 a “mixotope” was synthesized which contains at each position all the amino acids found in the naturally occurring isolates examined. The strategy followed in the synthesis of the mixotope is depicted in FIG. 15 . The strategy for designing mixotopes is reviewed in Gras-masse et al., Peptide Res. (1992) 5:211-216. The resin was divided into a number of portions equal to the number of amino acids to be coupled. The coupling reactions were carried out individually so as to avoid problems arising due to differences in coupling kinetics between the various amino acids. Following the coupling reactions, the resin portions were pooled and mixed thoroughly. The total number of variants obtained for this 23 amino acid-long sequence was +1.147×1010. The increasing number of variants as a function of chain length as measured from the carboxy-terminus or amino-terminus is shown in FIG. 14 . The rationale behind the mixotope approach is that epitopes are composed of amino acids whose contribution to antibody binding is not equal. Antibodies may recognize an epitope even though these may be a relatively large number of (generally not random) substitutions in certain positions. In this respect, the antigenic complexity of the mixotope should be substantially less than the number of variants comprising the mixture. For the sake of illustration, if it is assumed that an average epitope is 6 amino acids in length, it is possible to calculate the number variants for each successive 6 amino acid long segment in the sequence. The number of variants as a function of position in the sequence is shown in FIG. 14 . The actual number of functional variant sequences will be equal to the number shown for any 6 amino acid-long sequence which happens to correspond to an epitope, divided by a degeneracy factor equal to the number if tolerated substitutions in each position of the epitope but modified to reflect the degree to which the particular substitutions are tolerated. Unfortunately, the exact position(s) of the epitope(s) are not known. It should be stated explicitly that this is not a random peptide library. Key positions in the total sequence which do not tolerate substitutions, as evidenced by the absence of amino acid variations in naturally occurring isolates, are preserved. One disadvantage of this synthetic approach is that rare amino acid substitutions are overrepresented and will tend to dilute out the more commonly encountered amino acids. On the other hand, the possibility existed that overrepresentation of rare substitutions might allow the detection of antibodies not detectable with epitope sequences comprised of more frequently encountered amino acids. Following completion of the synthesis of the mixotope, all peptide chains were provided with a (Gly)2 spacers and a biotin to facilitate immunological evaluation. A multiple antigen peptide (MAP) version of the mixotope may also be synthesized in parallel.

One result of previous studies was that while approximately 90 percent of HCV-positive sera could e shown to contain anti-E2/NSl antibodies directed against the N-terminal hypervariable region with the 16 “a” and “b” sequences investigated. The apparent lack of these antibodies in the remaining 10 percent of HCV antibody-positive sera could be due to two factors: 1) these patients fail to produce antibodies against this portion of E2/NSl, or 2) has not yet been identified the correct sequence with which to detect these antibodies. Based on experiments with the HIV-1 V3 loop, this latter possibility did not seem at all unrealistic. LIA strips were prepared which contained the 8 “b” sequences previously used in addition to the mixotope. Sera were selected which previously scored positive on at least one of the eight defined sequences as well as sera which scored negative. In total, 60 sera were tested, of which 56 previously gave a positive reaction and 4 were previously found to be negative. Of the 56 sera which had previously scored positive, 21 reacted with only one or two of the peptides on the strip or only gave a very weak reaction. (data not shown). The mixotope was recognized by approximately one-third of all the sera tested. The reaction of some sera to the mixotope was surprisingly strong, however, it may be possible that the collection of E2/NSl sequences on which the mixotope was based is not truly representative. It is expected that the mixotope MAP will elicit the production of broad specificity antisera directed against the amino-terminus of E2/NS1.

EXAMPLE 23

Use of branched HCV N-terminal E2/NS1 region peptides for raising antibodies

Several sequences from the N-terminus of E2/NS1 were selected for synthesis as multiple antigen peptides (MAP's) using the technique described by Tam (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5409-5413, 1988). The strategy used to synthesize the branched peptides is shown schematically in FIG. 16 . Rabbits (two for each MAP) were given an initial injection and were boosted once before blood was drawn for a first evaluation of antibody production. The antisera were tested on LIA strips containing a total of 16 E2 peptides (sequences derived from 8 type 1 isolates, “a” and “b” versions of each). Examination of the LIA strips reveals that there is considerable cross-reaction between the antibodies raised in the rabbits and the various E2 peptides on the strips (FIG. 17 ). The fact that both “a” and “b” variations can be found which are recognized by the different antisera indicates that there is at least one epitope located in the region where these two versions overlap.

EXAMPLE 24

Diagnosis of HTLV infection using Biotinylated Synthetic Peptides

HTLV-I and II are antigenically related members of a family of oncogenic retroviruses. HTLV-I infection has been shown to be associated with two disease syndromes: HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (neurological disorders) and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). In contrast, HTLV-II has not been conclusively linked to any known disease syndrome. This virus was originally isolated from a patient with hairy cell leukemia, however, no causal relationship between HTLV-II infection and the disease state could be established. Since HTLV-I infection has definitely been demonstrated to have the potential to result in human disease while HTLV-II infection has not, it is of clinical interest to be able to differentiate between these two infectious agents. Since these two viruses are antigenically highly related, it is difficult to discriminate between HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections when viral or recombinant antigens are used for antibody detection. A number of biotinylated peptides were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to detect antibodies raised in response to infection by either HTLV-I or HTLV-II. Some of the peptides were chosen because they contain epitopes which are highly conserved between HTLV-I and HTLV-II and should therefore be useful reagents for detecting HTLV infection without regard to virus type. Still other peptides were chosen because they contain epitopes which should allow HTLV-I and HTLV-II infections to be discriminated. The peptides synthesized are as follows:

I-gp46-3:

Bio Gly Gly Val Leu Tyr Ser Pro Asn Val Ser Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Leu Leu Tyr Pro Ser Leu Ala

I-gp46-5:

Bio Gly Gly Tyr Thr Cys Ile Val Cys Ile Asp Arg Ala Ser Leu Ser Thr Trp His Val Leu Tyr Ser Pro

I-gp46-4:

Bio Gly Gly Asn Ser Leu Ile Leu Pro Pro Phe Ser Leu Ser Pro Val Pro Thr Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Arg Arg

I-gp46-6:

Bio Gly Gly Asp Ala Pro Gly Tyr Asp Pro Ile Trp Phe Leu Asn Thr Glu Pro Ser Gln Leu Pro Pro Thr Ala Pro Pro Leu Leu Pro His Ser Asn Leu Asp His Ile Leu Glu

I-p21-2:

Bio Gly Gly Gln Tyr Ala Ala Gln Asn Arg Arg Gly Leu Asp Leu Leu Phe Trp Glu Gln Gly Gly Leu Cys Lys Ala Leu Gln Glu Gln Cys Arg Phe Pro

I-p19:

Bio Gly Gly Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Ser Pro Thr His Asp Pro Pro Asp Ser Asp Pro Gln Ile Pro Pro Pro Tye Val Glu Pro Thr Ala Pro Gln Val Leu

II-gp52-1:

Bio Gly Gly Lys Lys Pro Asn Arg Gln Gly Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Ser Pro Ser Tyr Asn Asp Pro

II-gp52-2:

Bio Gly Gly Asp Ala Pro Gly Tyr Asp Pro Leu Trp Phe Ile Thr Ser Glu Pro Thr Gln Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Pro Pro Leu Val His Asp Ser Asp Leu Glu His Val Leu Thr

II-gp52-3:

Bio Gly Gly Tyr Ser Cys Met Val Cys Val Asp Arg Ser Ser Leu Ser Ser Trp His Val Leu Tyr Thr Pro Asn Ile Ser Ile Pro Gln Gln Thr Ser Ser Arg Thr Ile Leu Phe Pro Ser

II-p19:

Bio Gly Gly Pro Thr Thr Thr Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Pro Glu Ala His Val Pro Pro Pro Tyr Val Glu Pro Thr Thr Thr Gln Cys Phe

A number of these peptides were used to prepare LIA strips for the detection of antibodies to HTLV. Several of the peptides, such as I-p19 and I-gp46-4, which are derived from regions of the HTLV-I p19 gag protein and envelope glycoprotein, respectively, are expected to be recognized by antibodies produced as a result of both HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection since these sequences are highly homologous in the two viruses. Others, such as I-gp46-3, I-gp46-4 for HTLV-I, and II-gp52-1, II-gp52-2 and II-gp52-3 for HTLV-II may be useful for detection of antibodies as well as discrimination. Since there is some homology between the HTLV-I and HTLV-II sequences, cross-reactions are to be expected. Nevertheless, the intensities of the reactions to the various peptides should reveal the identity of the virus to which the antibodies were produced.

An example of LIA strips prepared with a number of the biotinylated HTLV-I and HTLV-II peptides is shown in FIG. XXX. The LIA strips were evaluated using a commercially available serum panel (Boston Biomedica Inc., mixed titer panel, PRP203). The test results are in complete agreement with the analysis provided by distributor. Only one sample (nr. 9) is positive for HTLV-I. Sample nr.12 is detected as positive because of the positive reaction to the peptide I-p19. This sample could not be differentiated using these peptides, nor could this sample be differentiated by any other test used by the distributor of the serum panel. Sample nr. 11 was found to be negative and all other samples were found to be positive for HTLV-II. In an additional experiment, an ELISA was performed using all 10 of the biotinylated HTLV-I and HTLV-II peptides. The peptides were completed with streptavidin individually and then mixed prior to coating. Some of the samples from the panel used to evaluated the LIA strips were used to evaluate the peptides in the ELISA. These results are shown in table. The ELISA in this configuration cannot be used to differentiate HTLV-I and -II infections but should identify HTLV-positive samples in general regardless of virus type. The results further demonstrate the utility of these peptides for the diagnosis of HTLV infection.

TABLE 1
Antibody recognition of biotinylated and unbiotinylated
HIV-1 and HIV-2 peptides
					TM-
			TM-HIV-1		HIV-
	Serum	TM-HIV-1	Bio	TM-HIV-2	2 Bio
HIV-1	0724	0.174	2.570	0.000	0.000
positive	mm	0.051	2.579	0.000	0.000
	YEMO	0.162	2.357	0.000	0.000
	PL	0.000	1.559	0.000	0.000
	VE	0.052	2.551	0.000	0.000
HIV-2	1400	0.000	0.000	0.000	1.982
positive	AG	0.000	0.000	0.000	2.323
	53-3	0.000	0.000	0.000	2.365
Seronegative	194	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
donors	195	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
	180	0.000	0.005	0.000	0.000
	204	0.000	0.001	0.000	0.000

TABLE 2
Comparison of antibody recognition of biotinylated and unbiotinylated
peptides from the V3 sequence of isolate HIV-1 mn.
	Sample identity	V3-mn	V3-mn Bio
	negative control	0.063		0.069
	blank	0.053		0.051
	YS	1.442		2.784
	DV	1.314		2.881
	VE	1.717	overflow*
	OOST 6	1.025		2.855
	OOST 8	1.389	overflow*
	3990	1.442	overflow*
	PL	0.531		2.351
	MM	0.791		2.542
	4436	0.388		2.268
	4438	0.736		2.554
	266	0.951		2.591
	OOST 4	1.106	overflow*
	*Absorbance value greater than 3.000

TABLE 3
Comparison of antibody recognition of the biotinylated V3-mn
peptide bound to streptavidin and avidin
	Serum	Streptavidin	Avidin
	YS	1.236	1.721
	DV	1.041	1.748
	PL	0.222	0.983
	3990	1.391	1.854
	VE	1.526	1.908
	4436	0.596	1.519
	Control	0.050	0.063

TABLE 4
Comparison of antibody recognition of biotinylated and
unbiotinylated HCV peptides.
Table 4A
Antibody binding to HCV peptide XI
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide XI	Peptide XI
2	0.090	1.971
3	0.443	2.086
4	0.473	1.976
6	0.053	0.518
8	1.275	2.624
10	0.764	2.321
11	0.569	2.378
23	0.775	2.503
31	0.497	2.104
77	0.093	0.159
33	0.832	1.857
49	0.515	2.180
negative serum	0.053	0.095

TABLE 4B
Antibody binding to HCV peptide XVI
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide XVI	Peptide XVI
1	1.038	2.435
2	0.616	1.239
6	0.100	1.595
8	0.329	1.599
10	1.033	2.847
26	0.053	1.522
83	0.912	2.221
88	1.187	2.519
89	0.495	1.530
91	0.197	2.169
95	0.109	1.484
99	0.814	2.045
100	0.474	1.637
104	0.205	0.942
105	0.313	2.186
110	0.762	1.484
111	0.193	1.465
112	0.253	1.084
113	0.833	2.535
116	0.058	1.918
120	0.964	2.332
11476	0.068	2.197
24758	0.071	0.062
266	0.712	2.262
8247	0.059	0.618
negative serum	0.063	0.067

TABLE 4C
Antibody binding to HCV peptide II
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide II	Peptide II
8241	0.444	0.545
8242	1.682	2.415
8243	2.181	2.306
8247	1.518	1.975
8250	0.110	0.357
8271	0.912	1.284
8273	2.468	2.769
8274	2.700	2.943
8275	1.489	2.030
8276	2.133	2.348
8277	1.771	2.572
8278	1.907	2.022
negative serum	0.047	0.070

TABLE 4D
Antibody binding to HCV peptide III
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide III	Peptide III
8241	1.219	2.066
8242	1.976	2.197
8243	1.859	2.368
8247	1.072	2.398
8248	2.742	2.918
8250	2.471	2.626
8271	1.471	2.066
8272	2.471	2.638
8273	1.543	2.697
8274	2.503	2.905
8275	1.595	2.640
8276	1.976	2.674
8277	0.735	2.327
negative serum	0.050	0.06

TABLE 4E
Antibody binding to HCV peptide V
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide V	Peptide V
8272	0.589	1.220
8273	0.294	1.026
8274	1.820	2.662
8275	1.728	1.724
8276	2.194	2.616
8277	0.770	1.796
8278	1.391	1.746
8284	0.040	0.757
negative serum	0.047	0.070

TABLE 4F
Antibody binding to HCV peptide IX
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide IX	Peptide IX
8315	2.614	2.672
8316	0.133	0.367
8317	0.855	1.634
8318	1.965	2.431
8320	0.721	0.896
8321	0.283	0.457
8326	2.219	2.540
negative serum	0.052	0.005

TABLE 4G
Antibody binding to HCV peptide XVIII
Serum	Unbiotinylated peptide XVIII	Peptide XVIII
79	1.739	2.105
83	1.121	1.232
88	0.972	1.858
89	2.079	2.309
91	2.202	2.132
99	1.253	1.526
104	1.864	1.998
105	1.522	2.053
110	1.981	2.065
111	1.363	1.542
112	1.172	1.408
116	1.534	1.978
120	1.599	2.031
1	2.523	2.691
33	1.463	1.813
39	0.068	0.213
47	2.117	2.611
negative serum	0.001	0.001

TABLE 5
Peptide concentration*	3.0	1.0	0.3	0.1	0.03	0.01
coating method**	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2	1	2
Unbiotinylated HCV peptide II and HCV peptide II
sample positive
8320	2.718	2.278	2.684	2.163	2.684	2.004	2.718	1.828	2.757	1.272	2.519	0.479
8242	1.427	0.539	1.368	0.408	1.365	0.234	1.399	0.058	1.481	0.048	1.196	0.051
8243	1.668	1.341	1.652	1.221	1.608	0.831	1.639	0.181	1.597	0.057	1.088	0.056
8318	2.016	0.791	1.993	0.626	1.958	0.347	2.001	0.181	2.181	0.095	2.002	0.048
sample negative
1747	0.064	0.049	0.071	0.046	0.046	0.041	0.045	0.044	0.045	0.043	0.045	0.041
1781	0.057	0.053	0.055	0.053	0.051	0.045	0.047	0.046	0.049	0.053	0.053	0.046
Unbiotinylated HCV peptide IX and HCV peptide IX
sample positive
8320	1.779	0.129	0.802	0.093	1.798	0.122	1.244	0.063	1.007	0.057	0.461	0.059
8326	2.284	0.084	2.271	0.068	2.271	0.078	2.284	0.068	2.193	0.051	1.812	0.049
8242	0.791	0.059	0.777	0.052	0.795	0.048	0.911	0.046	0.496	0.047	0.215	0.049
8243	1.959	0.063	1.953	0.053	1.892	0.051	1.834	0.051	1.421	0.051	0.639	0.054
sample negative
1747	0.051	0.046	0.049	0.046	0.046	0.044	0.042	0.045	0.044	0.045	0.043	0.045
1781	0.053	0.053	0.051	0.052	0.051	0.051	0.047	0.052	0.048	0.049	0.049	0.051
Unbiotinylated HCV peptide XVIII and HCV peptide XVIII
sample positive
8326	2.315	0.052	2.331	0.053	2.331	0.053	2.331	0.049	2.219	0.051	1.848	0.051
8242	0.749	0.053	0.839	0.049	0.873	0.048	0.946	0.047	1.188	0.049	1.185	0.048
8243	0.671	0.057	0.627	0.053	0.629	0.054	0.661	0.051	0.611	0.053	0.462	0.053
8318	2.391	0.051	2.396	0.045	2.392	0.047	2.409	0.047	2.308	0.047	1.711	0.048
sample negative
1747	0.047	0.048	0.042	0.045	0.061	0.046	0.044	0.045	0.058	0.044	0.042	0.047
1781	0.053	0.055	0.048	0.054	0.048	0.051	0.048	0.051	0.051	0.051	0.045	0.053
*in micrograms per milliliter
**1 biotinylated peptide on streptabidin coated plate
2 unbiotinylated peptide coated directly

TABLE 6
Comparison of N- and C-terminally biotinylated TM-HIV-1 peptide
		TM-HIV-1	TM-HIV-1
	Serum	C-terminal biotin	N-terminal biotin
HIV positive	VE	2.079	2.240
	OOST 6	1.992	2.003
	MM	2.097	2.308
	0724	2.322	2.291
	DV	0.903	1.579
	PL	1.893	1.849
	2049	1.780	2.058
	3990	1.959	1.870
	4438	1.622	1.697
	4436	2.190	2.110
	OOST 7	1.728	2.027
	OOST 8	2.117	2.237
	OOST 9	2.119	2.222
	VCM	2.131	2.263
	1164	1.865	1.919
	1252	2.244	2.356
	0369/87	2.059	2.042
Seronegative blood	1784	0.000	0.000
donors	1747	0.000	0.000
	1733	0.014	0.000

	TABLE 7
		HCV peptide I
	HCV peptide I	carboxy-biotinylated
	(coated directly)	(bound to streptavidin-coated wells)
HCV antibody-
positive sera
8316	2.394	2.541
8318	2.385	2.404
8320	2.760	2.762
8326	0.525	1.775
8329	2.633	2.672
8333	2.143	2.545
8334	2.271	2.549
8336	1.558	2.016
8344	1.878	2.010
8248	2.042	2.493
8244	0.077	1.399
8243	2.211	2.541
8242	1.367	2.389
8364	2.705	2.705
8374	1.070	2.151
8378	2.161	2.531
8330	1.985	2.651
8387	1.427	2.628
HCV antibody-
negative sera
F88	0.000	0.026
F89	0.017	0.001
F76	0.000	0.022
F136	0.006	0.002
F8	0.000	0.000

TABLE 8
Use of mixtures of biotinylated peptides for antibody detection
										Mixture
					HCV peptide	HCV peptide	HCV peptide	Mixture	Mixture	A	Mixture
		TM-HIV-1-	TM-HIV-2-	V3-mn-BIO	II-BIO	IX-BIO	XVIII-BIO	A	B	Direct	Direct
	Serum	BIO Avidin	BIO Avidin	Avidin	Avidin	Avidin	Avidin	Avidin	Avidin	coating	coating
HCV	8243	0.108	0.109	0.114	1.430	1.213	0.118	1.590	1.638	0.542	0.184
	8247	0.042	0.048	0.052	1.356	0.756	0.046	0.840	1.149	0.049	0.049
	8248	0.043	0.046	0.048	2.287	0.047	0.905	1.859	2.154	0.407	0.064
	8269	0.053	0.049	0.056	1.213	0.051	1.513	0.923	1.268	0.078	0.067
	8290	0.045	0.047	0.050	0.060	0.048	2.323	1.210	1.761	0.559	0.717
	8278	0.046	0.045	0.053	1.878	0.074	0.052	1.806	1.944	0.540	0.152
	8273	0.053	0.050	0.056	2.017	0.053	0.052	2.037	2.113	0.773	0.185
	8285	0.134	0.163	0.143	1.592	0.270	0.146	1.746	1.822	0.908	0.401
	8291	0.048	0.050	0.053	1.539	0.052	0.049	1.591	1.809	0.335	0.098
HIV-2	AG	0.054	2.065	0.068	0.081	0.064	0.058	1.833	1.880	0.054	0.056
	1400	0.051	1.781	0.055	0.121	0.052	1.362	1.692	2.031	0.214	0.326
HIV-1	YS	0.046	0.046	2.201	0.048	0.049	0.049	2.045	1.845	0.200	0.052
	PL	1.974	0.051	1.321	0.052	0.056	0.052	1.587	1.776	0.052	0.055
	DV	1.329	0.048	2.340	0.047	0.049	0.047	1.969	1.742	0.100	0.049
	3990	1.602	0.054	2.319	0.054	0.066	0.056	2.217	1.926	0.390	0.081
Blood donor	1785	0.046	0.047	0.048	0.045	0.050	0.047	0.047	0.049	0.045	0.049
	1794	0.124	0.090	0.091	0.153	0.098	0.104	0.152	0.161	0.050	0.058
	1784	0.044	0.046	0.046	0.045	0.050	0.047	0.047	0.047	0.045	0.048
	1782	0.052	0.057	0.059	0.057	0.062	0.053	0.057	0.059	0.049	0.056

TABLE 9
Sequences of the Core Epitopes of the HCV Core Protein
HCV CORE PROTEIN AMINO ACIDS 1-90
Positions of core epitopes
	(SEQ ID NO:)
Epitope 1A:		M S T I P K P Q R K T K R N T N R R P Q P Q R K T K R N T N R R P Q D V K F P G	(453) (454)	CORE 1 CORE 2
Epitope 1B:		M S T I P K P Q R K T K R N T N R R P Q P Q R K T K R N T N R R P Q D V K F P G	(453) (454)	CORE 1 CORE 2
Epitope 2:		P Q R K T K R N T N R R P Q D V K F P G R N T N R R P Q D V K F P G G G Q I V G	(454) (455)	CORE 2 CORE 3
Epitope 3A:		P G G G Q I V G G V Y L L P R R G P R L	(456)	CORE 5
Epitope 3B:		P G G G Q I V G G V Y L L P R R G P R L L P R R G P R L G V R A T R K T S E R S	(456) (457)	CORE 5 CORE 7
Epitope 3C:		L P R R G P R L G V R A T R K T S E R S	(457)	CORE 7
Epitope 4A:		T R K T S E R S Q P R G R R Q P I P K V	(458)	CORE 9
Epitope 4B:		T R K T S E R S Q P R G R R Q P I P K V R R Q P I P K V R R P E G R T W A Q P G	(458) (459)	CORE 9 CORE 11
Epitope 5A:		R R Q P I P K V R R P E G R T W A Q P G G R T W A Q P G Y P W P L Y G N E G C G	(459) (600)	CORE 11 CORE 13
Epitope 5B: (minor)		G R T W A Q P G Y P W P L Y G N E G C G	(600)	CORE 13

TABLE 10
Sequences of the Core Epitopes of the HCV NS4 Protein
HCV NS4 PROTEINS
Positions of core epitopes
	(SEQ ID NO:)
Epitope 1A:		L S G K P A I I P D R E V L Y R E F D E I I P D R E V L Y R E F D E M E E C S Q	(460) (461)	HCV1 HCV2
Epitope 2A:		V L Y R E F D E M E E C S Q H L P Y I E D E M E E C S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K	(462) (463) (464)	HCV3 HCV4 HCV5
Epitope 2B: (minor)		D E M E E C S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K	(463) (464)	HCV4 HCV5
Epitope 3A:		S Q H L P Y I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A	(464) (465) (466)	HCV5 HCV6 HCV7
Epitope 3B:		I E Q G M M L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A	(465) (466)	HCV6 HCV7
Epitope 4:		L A E Q F K Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A Q K A L G L L Q T A S R Q A E V I A P A	(466) (467)	HCV7 HCV8

TABLE 11
Sequences of the Core Epitopes of the HCV NS5 Protein
HCV NS5 PROTEINS
Positions of the core epitopes
	(SEQ ID NO:)
Epitope 1A:		E D E R E I S V P A E I L R K S R R F A	(471)	NS5-25
Epitope 1B:		E D E R E I S V P A E I L R K S R R F A	(471)	NS5-25
Epitope 2:		L R K S R R F A Q A L P V W A R P D Y N	(472)	NS5-27
Epitope 3:		V W A R P D Y N P P L V E T W K K P D Y	(473)	NS5-29
Epitope 4: (minor)		V W A R D Y N P P L V E T W K K P D Y	(473)	NS5-29
Epitope 5:		E T W K K P D Y E P P V V H G C P L P P	(474)	NS5-31
Epitope 6:		E T W K K P D Y E P P V V H G C P L P P V H G C P L P P P K S P P V P P P R K K	(474) (475)	NS5-31 NS5-33

TABLE 12
Antibody binding of Various Core, NS4 and
NS5 biotinylated 20-mers by the 10 test sera
	PEPTID ELISA (O.D.)
SERUM	Core-2	Core-3	Core-7	Core-9	HCV-2	HCV-5	HCV-7	NS5-25	NS5-27	NS5-31
8242	2.415	2.197	0.632	2.315	2.114	1.625	1.252	0.268	2.318	2.453
8248	2.441	2.918	1.529	2.021	0.142	0.182	1.963	0.054	0.388	1.511
8332	1.977	2.054	1.387	1.455	0.392	0.575	0.945	0.047	2.130	2.290
8339	2.030	2.765	0.166	2.598	2.497	0.043	0.041	1.495	2.359	2.757
8358	1.982	2.135	0.357	0.685	1.779	0.623	0.598	0.069	2.249	0.182
8377	2.181	2.368	0.221	0.076	2.360	2.227	1.829	1.092	2.336	1.378
8378	1.140	2.369	1.089	1.228	1.859	1.449	2.006	0.279	1.602	2.337
8383	2.463	2.463	0.970	2.162	2.300	1.018	2.504	0.055	2.390	1.378
8241	0.545	2.066	0.448	0.274	2.421	2.280	0.968	0.050	2.456	0.273
8243	2.306	2.368	1.251	1.378	2.203	2.268	2.251	0.062	1.444	0.127

TABLE 13
Antibody recognition of individual E2/NS1 peptides.
(percent of all sera giving a positive reaction.)
	CL14-A	7 (51)	13.7%
	B	36 (51)	70.6%
	KATO-A	2 (51)	3.92%
	B	26 (51)	50.98%
	HCJ4-A	32 (51)	62.74%
	B	41 (51)	80.39%
	FRENCH-A	30 (51)	58.8%
	B	42 (51)	82.35%
	YEK-A	7 (51)	13.72%
	B	49 (51)	96.07%
	TAMI-A	12 (51)	23.52%
	B	36 (51)	70.58%
	18CH1-A	5 (51)	9.8%
	B	30 (51)	58.82%
	CHIR-A	32 (51)	62.7%
	B	40 (51)	78.43%

TABLE 14
Overall Recognition of NB-Loop peptides.
	CON	SC	MN	SF2	BH	RF	MAL	ELI	70
Total SUM	287	261	275	258	108	146	140	24	6
COUNT	326	326	326	326	326	326	326	326	326
gp120 positive
% Reactive	88	80	84	79	33	45	43	7	2
Total SUM	287	261	275	258	108	146	140	24	6
COUNT	307	307	307	307	307	307	307	307	307
HIV-V3 positive
% Reactive	93	85	90	84	35	48	46	8	2

TABLE 15
Recognition of peptides according to geographical region
EUROPEAN	%	AFRICAN	%	BRAZILIAN	%
Consensus	98	Consensus	89	Consensus	82
HIV-1 (SC)	98	HIV-1 (MN)	85	HIV-1 (MN)	78
HIV-1 (SF2)	98	HIV-1 (SF2)	79	HIV-1 (SC)	75
HIV-1 (MN)	97	HIV-1 (SC)	73	HIV-1 (SF2)	72
HIV-1 (RF)	75	HIV-1 (MAL)	60	HIV-1 (RF)	38
HIV-1 (MAL)	68	HIV-1 (RF)	34	HIV-1 (MAL)	30
HIV-1 (IIIB)	61	HIV-1 (IIIB)	27	HIV-1 (IIIB)	26
HIV-1 (ELI)	8	HIV-1 (ELI)	13	HIV-1 (ELI)	5
ANT 70	2	ANT 70	2	ANT 70	2

TABLE 16
Recognition of European, African and Brazilian
HIV-1 antibody-positive sera to
HIV-1 V3 loop peptides V3-con and V3-368
	V3-con	V3-368	V3con-V3-368
	European sera
	number tested	36	36	36
	number positive	33	4	33
	number negative	0	12	0
	number borderline	3	20	3
	percent positive	92	11	92
	percent negative	0	33	0
	percent borderline	8	56	8
	African sera
	number tested	45	45	45
	number positive	40	5	40
	number negative	4	31	2
	number borderline	1	9	3
	percent positive	89	11	89
	percent negative	9	69	4
	percent borderline	2	20	7
	Brazilian sera
	number tested	36	36	36
	number positive	30	16	35
	number negative	1	5	1
	number borderline	5	15	0
	percent positive	83.3	44.4	97.2
	percent negative	2.8	13.9	2.8
	percent borderline	13.9	41.7	0

TABLE 17
Recognition of HIV-2 positive sera to peptides from the V2 loop
region of HIV-2
	V3-GB12	V3-239
	number tested	21	21
	number positive	21	19
	number negative	0	0
	number borderline	0	2
	percent positive	100	90.5
	percent negative	0	0
	percent borderline	0	9.5

TABLE 18
Antibody recognition of hybrid peptides
A.
Ser-	NS4	NS5	Core	LIA	Discrep-
um	Epitope 1	Epitope 5	Epitope 2	Epi-152	ancies
5241	—	—	—	—weak
5242	—	—	—	—
5243	—	—	—	—
5248	—	—	—	—
5332	—	—	—	—
5339	—	—	—	—
5358	—	—	—	—
5377	—	—	—	—
5378	—	—	—	—
5383	—	—	—	—
B.
Ser-	NS5	NS4	Core Epi-	LIA	Discrep-
um	Epitope 3	Epitope 3B	tope 3A	Epi-33B3A	ancies
6241	—	—	—	—	—
6242	—	—	—	—
6243	—	—	—	—
6248	—	—	—	—
6332	—	— —	—	—
6339	—	—	—	—
6358	—	—	—	—
6377	—	—	—	—
6378	—	—	—	—
6383	—	—	—	—
C.
Ser-	Core	NS4	NS5	LIA	Discrep-
um	Epitope 4B	Epitope 2A	Epitope 5	Epi-4B2A5	ancies
8241	—	—	—	—
8242	—	—	—	—
8243	—	— —	—	—	— — —
8248	—	—	—	—
8332	—	— —	—	—weak
8339	—	—	—	—
8358	—	—	—	— —	?
8377	—	—	—	—	—
8378	—	—	—	—
8383	—	—	—	—

TABLE 19
ANTIBODY RECOGNITION OF HTLV PEPTIDES
Serum number Optical density
1            0.303
2            3.001
3            0.644
4            1.262
6            3.001
7            2.623
9            2.607
             (HTLV-1)
10           3.001
11           0.058
             (negative)
13           3.001
14           3.001
15           0.850
16           0.278
19           1.048
20           3.001
21           0.805
22           0.812
23           3.001
24           0.405
25           1.521

600 1 9 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 1Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Ile Cys 1 5 2 18 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 2Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Leu Ile Cys Thr Thr Ala Val Pro Asn 1 5 10 15Ala Ser 3 19 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 3Glu Arg Tyr Leu Lys Asp Gln Gln Leu Leu Gly Ile Trp Gly Cys Gly 1 5 10 15Lys Leu Ile 4 16 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 4Leu Gln Ala Arg Ile Leu Ala Val Glu Arg Tyr Leu Lys Asp Gln Leu 1 5 10 15 5 10 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 5Leu Trp Gly Cys Lys Gly Lys Leu Val Cys 1 5 10 6 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 6Asp Gln Gln Leu Leu Gly Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys His Ile Thr 1 5 10 15Thr Asn Val Pro Trp Asn 20 7 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 7Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Thr 1 5 10 15Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly 20 8 34 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 8Cys Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Gly 1 5 10 15Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly Asp Ile Arg Gln Ala 20 25 30His Cys 9 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 9Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile Tyr Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Thr 1 5 10 15Thr Gly Arg Ile Ile Gly 20 10 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 10Asn Asn Thr Thr Arg Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Ala 1 5 10 15Thr Gly Asp Ile Ile Gly 20 11 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 11Tyr Asn Lys Arg Lys Arg Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Thr 1 5 10 15Thr Lys Asn Ile Ile Gly 20 12 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 12Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile Thr Lys Gly Pro Gly Arg Val Ile Tyr 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Gly Gln Ile Ile Gly 20 13 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 13Asn Asn Thr Arg Arg Gly Ile His Phe Gly Pro Gly Gln Ala Leu Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Gly Ile Val Gly 20 14 24 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 14Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile Arg Ile Gln Arg Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala 1 5 10 15Phe Val Thr Ile Gly Lys Ile Gly 20 15 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 15Gln Asn Thr Arg Gln Arg Thr Pro Ile Gly Leu Gly Gln Ser Leu Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Arg Ser Arg Ser 20 16 21 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 16Gln Ile Asp Ile Gln Glu Met Arg Ile Gly Pro Met Ala Trp Tyr Ser 1 5 10 15Met Gly Ile Gly Gly 20 17 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 17Asn Asn Thr Arg Arg Gly Ile His Met Gly Trp Gly Arg Thr Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly 20 18 36 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 18Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val Lys Ile 1 5 10 15Glu Pro Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Thr Lys Ala Lys Arg Arg Val Val Gln 20 25 30Arg Glu Lys Arg 35 19 10 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 19Ser Trp Gly Cys Ala Phe Arg Gln Val Cys 1 5 10 20 20 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 20Lys Tyr Leu Gln Asp Gln Ala Arg Leu Asn Ser Trp Gly Cys Ala Phe 1 5 10 15Arg Gln Val Cys 20 21 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 21Asn Lys Thr Val Leu Pro Ile Thr Phe Met Ser Gly Phe Lys Phe His 1 5 10 15Ser Gln Pro Val Ile Asn Lys 20 22 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 22Asn Lys Thr Val Val Pro Ile Thr Leu Met Ser Gly Leu Val Phe His 1 5 10 15Ser Gln Pro Ile Asn Lys 20 23 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 23Asn Lys Thr Val Leu Pro Val Thr Ile Met Ser Gly Leu Val Phe His 1 5 10 15Ser Gln Pro Ile Asn Asp 20 24 10 PRT Chimpanzee Immunodeficiency virus 24Leu Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Ala Val Cys 1 5 10 25 10 PRT Simian immunodeficiency virus 25Ser Trp Gly Cys Ala Trp Lys Gln Val Cys 1 5 10 26 10 PRT Simian immunodeficiency virus 26Gln Trp Gly Cys Ser Trp Ala Gln Val Cys 1 5 10 27 22 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 27Val Leu Tyr Ser Pro Asn Val Ser Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Leu 1 5 10 15Leu Tyr Pro Ser Leu Ala 20 28 21 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 28Tyr Thr Cys Ile Val Cys Ile Asp Arg Ala Ser Leu Ser Thr Trp His 1 5 10 15Val Leu Tyr Ser Pro 20 29 22 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 29Asn Ser Leu Ile Leu Pro Pro Phe Ser Leu Ser Pro Val Pro Thr Leu 1 5 10 15Gly Ser Arg Ser Arg Arg 20 30 36 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 30Asp Ala Pro Gly Tyr Asp Pro Ile Trp Phe Leu Asn Thr Glu Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Leu Pro Pro Thr Ala Pro Pro Leu Leu Pro His Ser Asn Leu Asp 20 25 30His Ile Leu Glu 35 31 31 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 31Gln Tyr Ala Ala Gln Asn Arg Arg Gly Leu Asp Leu Leu Phe Trp Glu 1 5 10 15Gln Gly Gly Leu Cys Lys Ala Leu Gln Glu Gln Cys Arg Phe Pro 20 25 30 32 31 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 32Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Ser Pro Thr His Asp Pro Pro Asp Ser Asp Pro 1 5 10 15Gln Ile Pro Pro Pro Tyr Val Glu Pro Thr Ala Pro Gln Val Leu 20 25 30 33 18 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 33Lys Lys Pro Asn Arg Gln Gly Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Ser Pro Ser Tyr Asn 1 5 10 15Asp Pro 34 36 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 34Asp Ala Pro Gly Tyr Asp Pro Leu Trp Phe Ile Thr Ser Glu Pro Thr 1 5 10 15Gln Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Pro Pro Leu Val His Asp Ser Asp Leu Glu 20 25 30His Val Leu Thr 35 35 38 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 35Tyr Ser Cys Met Val Cys Val Asp Arg Ser Ser Leu Ser Ser Trp His 1 5 10 15Val Leu Tyr Thr Pro Asn Ile Ser Ile Pro Gln Gln Thr Ser Ser Arg 20 25 30Thr Ile Leu Phe Pro Ser 35 36 30 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 36Pro Thr Thr Thr Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Pro Glu Ala His 1 5 10 15Val Pro Pro Pro Tyr Val Glu Pro Thr Thr Thr Gln Cys Phe 20 25 30 37 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 37Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Pro Gln 20 38 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 38Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val 1 5 10 15Lys Phe Pro Gly 20 39 11 PRT Hepatitis C virus 39Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg 1 5 10 40 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 40Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly 1 5 10 15Gln Ile Val Gly 20 41 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 41Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr 1 5 10 15Ser Glu Arg Ser 20 42 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 42Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val 1 5 10 15Arg Ala Thr Arg 20 43 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 43Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro 1 5 10 15Ile Pro Lys Val 20 44 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 44Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Glu Gly Arg 20 45 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 45Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp 1 5 10 15Ala Gln Pro Gly 20 46 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 46Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr Gly Asn 1 5 10 15Glu Gly Cys Gly 20 47 30 PRT Hepatitis C virus 47Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly 20 25 30 48 40 PRT Hepatitis C virus 48Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg 1 5 10 15Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg 20 25 30Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg 35 40 49 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 49Leu Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg 1 5 10 15Glu Phe Asp Glu 20 50 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 50Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu 1 5 10 15Glu Cys Ser Gln 20 51 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 51Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln His Leu 1 5 10 15Pro Tyr Ile Glu 20 52 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 52Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Met Met Leu Ala 20 53 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 53Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Gln Lys 20 54 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 54Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu 1 5 10 15Gly Leu Leu Gln 20 55 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 55Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 10 15Ser Arg Gln Ala 20 56 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 56Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala Glu Val 1 5 10 15Ile Ala Pro Ala 20 57 31 PRT Hepatitis C virus 57Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Glu Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe 1 5 10 15Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala 20 25 30 58 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 58Gly Glu Gly Ala Val Gln Trp Met Asn Arg Leu Ile Ala Phe Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Gly Asn His 20 59 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 59Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Phe Ala 20 60 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 60Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20 61 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 61Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys 1 5 10 15Lys Pro Asp Tyr 20 62 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 62Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys 1 5 10 15Pro Leu Pro Pro 20 63 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 63Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro 1 5 10 15Pro Arg Lys Lys 20 64 37 PRT Hepatitis C virus 64Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro 20 25 30Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Asn 35 65 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 65Gly Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ala Ser Gln Arg Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 66 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 66Gly Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 67 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 67Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Arg Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 68 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 68Gly His Thr Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 69 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 69Gly His Thr Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 70 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 70Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 71 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 71Gly His Thr Arg Val Thr Gly Gly Val Gln Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg Pro Gly Ala Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 72 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 72Gly His Thr Arg Val Thr Gly Gly Val Gln Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg 20 73 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 73Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg Pro Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 74 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 74Gly His Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Arg Val Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 75 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 75Gly His Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Arg Val Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser 20 76 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 76Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 77 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 77Gly Asp Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Gln Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala Ser Gly Pro Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 78 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 78Gly Asp Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Gln Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala 20 79 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 79Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala Ser Gly Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 80 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 80Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly 1 5 10 15Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala Pro Gly Pro Lys Gln Asn Val His Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 81 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 81Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly 1 5 10 15Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala 20 82 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 82Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala Pro Gly Pro Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asn Val His Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 83 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 83Ala Glu Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 84 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 84Ala Glu Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr 20 85 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 85Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 86 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 86Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Thr Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys Gln Asp Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 87 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 87Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Thr Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 88 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 88Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asp Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 89 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 89Ala Gln Thr His Thr Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala His Asn Ala Arg Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Gly Met Phe Ser Leu Gly Ala Arg Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 90 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 90Ala Gln Thr His Thr Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala His Asn Ala Arg Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Gly Met Phe Ser 20 91 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 91Ala His Asn Ala Arg Thr Leu Thr Gly Met Phe Ser Leu Gly Ala Arg 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 92 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 92Val Asn Gln Arg Ala Val Val Ala Pro Asp Lys Glu Val Leu Tyr Glu 1 5 10 15Ala Phe Asp Glu 20 93 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 93Val Ala Pro Asp Lys Glu Val Leu Tyr Glu Ala Phe Asp Glu Met Glu 1 5 10 15Glu Cys Ala Ser 20 94 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 94Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ala Ser Arg Ala Ala Leu Ile Glu Glu Gly 1 5 10 15Gln Arg Ile Ala 20 95 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 95Ala Ser Arg Ala Ala Leu Ile Glu Glu Gly Gln Arg Ile Ala Glu Met 1 5 10 15Leu Lys Ser Lys 20 96 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 96Ile Glu Glu Gly Gln Arg Ile Ala Glu Met Leu Lys Ser Lys Ile Gln 1 5 10 15Gly Leu Leu Gln 20 97 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 97Ile Ala Glu Met Leu Lys Ser Lys Ile Gln Gly Leu Leu Gln Gln Ala 1 5 10 15Ser Lys Gln Ala 20 98 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 98Ser Lys Ile Gln Gly Leu Leu Gln Gln Ala Ser Lys Gln Ala Gln Asp 1 5 10 15Ile Gln Pro Ala 20 99 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 99Arg Ser Asp Leu Glu Pro Ser Ile Pro Ser Glu Tyr Met Leu Pro Lys 1 5 10 15Lys Arg Phe Pro 20 100 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 100Met Leu Pro Lys Lys Arg Phe Pro Pro Ala Leu Pro Ala Trp Ala Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20 101 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 101Ala Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Ser Trp Lys 1 5 10 15Arg Pro Asp Tyr 20 102 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 102Glu Ser Trp Lys Arg Pro Asp Tyr Gln Pro Ala Thr Val Ala Gly Cys 1 5 10 15Ala Leu Pro Pro 20 103 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 103Val Ala Gly Cys Ala Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys Lys Thr Pro Thr Pro Pro 1 5 10 15Pro Arg Arg Arg 20 104 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 104Leu Gly Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Val Pro Asp Lys Glu Val Leu Tyr Gln 1 5 10 15Gln Tyr Asp Glu 20 105 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 105Ser Gln Ala Ala Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Ala Gln Val Ile Ala His Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Glu Lys 20 106 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 106Ile Ala His Gln His Gln Phe Lys Glu Lys Val Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln 1 5 10 15Arg Ala Thr Gln Gln Gln 20 107 31 PRT Hepatitis C virus 107Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Gly Gly Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr 1 5 10 15Glu Pro Pro Val Gly Gly Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro 20 25 30 108 31 PRT Hepatitis C virus 108Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Gly Gly Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys 1 5 10 15Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Ser Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly 20 25 30 109 31 PRT Hepatitis C virus 109Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Gly Gly Ser Gln His Leu Pro 1 5 10 15Tyr Ile Glu Gln Ser Gly Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro 20 25 30 110 10 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 110Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Leu Ile Cys 1 5 10 111 13 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 111Gly Gly Gly Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Leu Ile Cys 1 5 10 112 10 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 112Ser Trp Gly Cys Ala Phe Arg Gln Val Cys 1 5 10 113 13 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 113Gly Gly Gly Ser Trp Gly Cys Ala Phe Arg Gln Val Cys 1 5 10 114 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 114Tyr Asn Lys Arg Lys Arg Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Lys Asn Ile Ile Gly 20 115 24 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 115Gly Gly Tyr Asn Lys Arg Lys Arg Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala 1 5 10 15Phe Thr Thr Lys Asn Ile Ile Gly 20 116 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 116Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Gln Lys 20 117 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 117Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20 118 19 PRT Hepatitis C virus 118Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val 1 5 10 15Lys Phe Gly 119 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 119Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly 1 5 10 15Gln Ile Val Gly 20 120 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 120Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro 1 5 10 15Ile Pro Lys Val 20 121 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 121Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu 1 5 10 15Glu Cys Ser Gln 20 122 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 122Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys 1 5 10 15Pro Leu Pro Pro 20 123 19 PRT Hepatitis C virus 123Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 10 15Arg Pro Gln 124 21 PRT Hepatitis C virus 124Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 10 15Arg Pro Gln Gly Gly 20 125 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 125Gly Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ala Ser Gln Arg Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 126 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 126Gly His Thr Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 127 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 127Gly His Thr Arg Val Thr Gly Gly Val Gln Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg Pro Gly Ala Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 128 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 128Gly His Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Arg Val Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 129 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 129Gly Asp Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Gln Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala Ser Gly Pro Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 130 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 130Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly 1 5 10 15Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala Pro Gly Pro Lys Gln Asn Val His Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 131 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 131Ala Glu Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 132 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 132Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Thr Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys Gln Asp Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 133 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 133Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Pro Gln 20 134 15 PRT Hepatitis C virus 134Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro 1 5 10 15 135 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 135Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly 1 5 10 15Gln Ile Val Gly 20 136 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 136Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly 20 25 30 137 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 137Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val 1 5 10 15Arg Ala Thr Arg 20 138 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 138Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr 1 5 10 15Ser Glu Arg Ser 20 139 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 139Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro 1 5 10 15Ile Pro Glu Val 20 140 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 140Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Glu Val Arg Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Glu Gly Arg 20 141 39 PRT Hepatitis C virus 141Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln 20 25 30Pro Ile Pro Glu Val Arg Arg 35 142 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 142Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Gln Lys 20 143 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 143Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 10 15Ser Arg Gln Ala 20 144 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 144Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala 20 25 30 145 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 145Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Phe Ala 20 146 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 146Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg 1 5 10 15Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20 147 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 147Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20 25 30 148 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 148Leu Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg 1 5 10 15Glu Phe Asp Glu 20 149 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 149Val Asn Gln Arg Ala Val Val Ala Pro Asp Lys Glu Val Leu Tyr Glu 1 5 10 15Ala Phe Asp Glu 20 150 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 150Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Gln Lys 20 151 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 151Ala Ser Arg Ala Ala Leu Ile Glu Glu Gly Gln Arg Ile Ala Glu Met 1 5 10 15Leu Lys Ser Lys 20 152 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 152Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 10 15Ser Arg Gln Ala 20 153 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 153Ile Ala Glu Met Leu Lys Ser Lys Ile Gln Gly Leu Leu Gln Gln Ala 1 5 10 15Ser Lys Gln Ala 20 154 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 154Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly 20 155 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 155Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile Tyr Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe His 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Gly Arg Ile Ile Gly 20 156 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 156Asn Asn Thr Thr Arg Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Gly Asp Ile Ile Gly 20 157 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 157Tyr Asn Lys Arg Lys Arg Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Lys Asn Ile Ile Gly 20 158 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 158Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile Thr Lys Gly Pro Gly Arg Val Ile Tyr 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Gly Gln Ile Ile Gly 20 159 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 159Asn Asn Thr Arg Arg Gly Ile His Phe Gly Pro Gly Gln Ala Leu Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Gly Ile Val Gly 20 160 24 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 160Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile Arg Ile Gln Arg Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala 1 5 10 15Phe Val Thr Ile Gly Lys Ile Gly 20 161 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 161Gln Asn Thr Arg Gln Arg Thr Pro Ile Gly Leu Gly Gln Ser Leu Tyr 1 5 10 15Thr Thr Arg Ser Arg Ser 20 162 21 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 162Gln Ile Asp Ile Gln Glu Met Arg Ile Gly Pro Met Ala Trp Tyr Ser 1 5 10 15Met Gly Ile Gly Gly 20 163 23 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 163Asn Asn Thr Arg Arg Gly Ile His Met Gly Trp Gly Arg Thr Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly 20 164 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 164Asn Lys Thr Val Val Pro Ile Thr Leu Met Ser Gly Leu Val Phe His 1 5 10 15Ser Gln Pro Ile Asn Lys 20 165 22 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 165Asn Lys Thr Val Leu Pro Val Thr Ile Met Ser Gly Leu Val Phe His 1 5 10 15Ser Gln Pro Ile Asn Asp 20 166 24 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 166Gly Gly Val Leu Tyr Ser Pro Asn Val Ser Val Pro Ser Ser Ser Ser 1 5 10 15Thr Leu Leu Tyr Pro Ser Leu Ala 20 167 23 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 167Gly Gly Tyr Thr Cys Ile Val Cys Ile Asp Arg Ala Ser Leu Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Trp His Val Leu Tyr Ser Pro 20 168 24 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 168Gly Gly Asn Ser Leu Ile Leu Pro Pro Phe Ser Leu Ser Pro Val Pro 1 5 10 15Thr Leu Gly Ser Arg Ser Arg Arg 20 169 38 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 169Gly Gly Asp Ala Pro Gly Tyr Asp Pro Ile Trp Phe Leu Asn Thr Glu 1 5 10 15Pro Ser Gln Leu Pro Pro Thr Ala Pro Pro Leu Leu Pro His Ser Asn 20 25 30Leu Asp His Ile Leu Glu 35 170 33 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 170Gly Gly Gln Tyr Ala Ala Gln Asn Arg Arg Gly Leu Asp Leu Leu Phe 1 5 10 15Trp Glu Gln Gly Gly Leu Cys Lys Ala Leu Gln Glu Gln Cys Arg Phe 20 25 30Pro 171 33 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 171Gly Gly Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Ser Pro Thr His Asp Pro Pro Asp Ser 1 5 10 15Asp Pro Gln Ile Pro Pro Pro Tyr Val Glu Pro Thr Ala Pro Gln Val 20 25 30Leu 172 20 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 172Gly Gly Lys Lys Pro Asn Arg Gln Gly Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Ser Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Tyr Asn Asp Pro 20 173 38 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 173Gly Gly Asp Ala Pro Gly Tyr Asp Pro Leu Trp Phe Ile Thr Ser Glu 1 5 10 15Pro Thr Gln Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Pro Pro Leu Val His Asp Ser Asp 20 25 30Leu Glu His Val Leu Thr 35 174 40 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 174Gly Gly Tyr Ser Cys Met Val Cys Val Asp Arg Ser Ser Leu Ser Ser 1 5 10 15Trp His Val Leu Tyr Thr Pro Asn Ile Ser Ile Pro Gln Gln Thr Ser 20 25 30Ser Arg Thr Ile Leu Phe Pro Ser 35 40 175 32 PRT Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 175Gly Gly Pro Thr Thr Thr Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Pro Glu 1 5 10 15Ala His Val Pro Pro Pro Tyr Val Glu Pro Thr Thr Thr Gln Cys Phe 20 25 30 176 13 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 176Gly Gly Gly Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Leu Ile Cys 1 5 10 177 12 PRT Human immunodeficiency virus 177Ile Trp Gly Cys Ser Gly Lys Leu Ile Cys Gly Gly 1 5 10 178 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 178Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg 1 5 179 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 179Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys 1 5 180 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 180Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr 1 5 181 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 181Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys 1 5 182 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 182Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg 1 5 183 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 183Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn 1 5 184 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 184Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr 1 5 185 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 185Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 186 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 186Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg 1 5 187 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 187Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg 1 5 188 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 188Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro 1 5 189 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 189Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln 1 5 190 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 190Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp 1 5 191 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 191Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val 1 5 192 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 192Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys 1 5 193 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 193Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe 1 5 194 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 194Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro 1 5 195 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 195Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly 1 5 196 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 196Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly 1 5 197 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 197Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly 1 5 198 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 198Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln 1 5 199 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 199Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile 1 5 200 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 200Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val 1 5 201 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 201Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly 1 5 202 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 202Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly Gly 1 5 203 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 203Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly Gly Val 1 5 204 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 204Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly Gly Val Tyr 1 5 205 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 205Gly Gln Ile Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu 1 5 206 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 206Gln Ile Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu 1 5 207 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 207Ile Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro 1 5 208 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 208Val Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg 1 5 209 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 209Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg 1 5 210 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 210Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly 1 5 211 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 211Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro 1 5 212 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 212Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg 1 5 213 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 213Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu 1 5 214 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 214Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly 1 5 215 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 215Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val 1 5 216 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 216Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg 1 5 217 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 217Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala 1 5 218 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 218Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr 1 5 219 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 219Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg 1 5 220 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 220Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys 1 5 221 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 221Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr 1 5 222 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 222Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser 1 5 223 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 223Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu 1 5 224 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 224Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg 1 5 225 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 225Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser 1 5 226 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 226Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln 1 5 227 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 227Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro 1 5 228 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 228Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg 1 5 229 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 229Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly 1 5 230 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 230Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg 1 5 231 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 231Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg 1 5 232 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 232Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln 1 5 233 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 233Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro 1 5 234 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 234Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile 1 5 235 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 235Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro 1 5 236 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 236Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys 1 5 237 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 237Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val 1 5 238 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 238Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg 1 5 239 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 239Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg 1 5 240 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 240Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro 1 5 241 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 241Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu 1 5 242 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 242Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly 1 5 243 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 243Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg 1 5 244 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 244Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr 1 5 245 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 245Val Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp 1 5 246 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 246Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala 1 5 247 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 247Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln 1 5 248 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 248Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro 1 5 249 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 249Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly 1 5 250 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 250Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr 1 5 251 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 251Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro 1 5 252 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 252Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp 1 5 253 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 253Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro 1 5 254 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 254Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu 1 5 255 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 255Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr 1 5 256 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 256Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr Gly 1 5 257 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 257Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr Gly Asn 1 5 258 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 258Leu Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro 1 5 259 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 259Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp 1 5 260 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 260Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg 1 5 261 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 261Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu 1 5 262 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 262Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val 1 5 263 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 263Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu 1 5 264 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 264Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr 1 5 265 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 265Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg 1 5 266 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 266Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu 1 5 267 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 267Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe 1 5 268 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 268Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp 1 5 269 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 269Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu 1 5 270 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 270Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met 1 5 271 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 271Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu 1 5 272 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 272Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu Glu 1 5 273 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 273Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys 1 5 274 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 274Glu Phe Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser 1 5 275 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 275Phe Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln 1 5 276 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 276Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln His 1 5 277 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 277Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln His Leu 1 5 278 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 278Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln His Leu Pro 1 5 279 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 279Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr 1 5 280 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 280Glu Cys Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile 1 5 281 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 281Cys Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu 1 5 282 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 282Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln 1 5 283 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 283Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly 1 5 284 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 284His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met 1 5 285 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 285Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met 1 5 286 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 286Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu 1 5 287 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 287Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala 1 5 288 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 288Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu 1 5 289 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 289Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 290 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 290Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe 1 5 291 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 291Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys 1 5 292 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 292Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln 1 5 293 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 293Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys 1 5 294 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 294Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala 1 5 295 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 295Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu 1 5 296 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 296Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly 1 5 297 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 297Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu 1 5 298 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 298Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu 1 5 299 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 299Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln 1 5 300 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 300Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr 1 5 301 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 301Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 302 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 302Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser 1 5 303 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 303Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg 1 5 304 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 304Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln 1 5 305 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 305Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala 1 5 306 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 306Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala Glu 1 5 307 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 307Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala Glu Val 1 5 308 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 308Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala Glu Val Ile 1 5 309 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 309Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala Glu Val Ile Ala 1 5 310 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 310Ser Arg Gln Ala Glu Val Ile Ala Pro 1 5 311 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 311Arg Gln Ala Glu Val Ile Ala Pro Ala 1 5 312 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 312Gln Ala Glu Val Ile Ala Pro Ala Val 1 5 313 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 313Ala Glu Val Ile Ala Pro Ala Val Gln 1 5 314 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 314Glu Val Ile Ala Pro Ala Val Gln Thr 1 5 315 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 315Val Ile Ala Pro Ala Val Gln Thr Asn 1 5 316 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 316Ile Ala Pro Ala Val Gln Thr Asn Trp 1 5 317 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 317Ala Pro Ala Val Gln Thr Asn Trp Gln 1 5 318 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 318Gly Asn Ile Thr Arg Tyr Glu Ser Glu 1 5 319 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 319Asn Ile Thr Arg Tyr Glu Ser Glu Asn 1 5 320 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 320Ile Thr Arg Tyr Glu Ser Glu Asn Lys 1 5 321 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 321Thr Arg Tyr Glu Ser Glu Asn Lys Val 1 5 322 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 322Arg Tyr Glu Ser Glu Asn Lys Val Val 1 5 323 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 323Tyr Glu Ser Glu Asn Lys Val Val Ile 1 5 324 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 324Glu Ser Glu Asn Lys Val Val Ile Leu 1 5 325 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 325Ser Glu Asn Lys Val Val Ile Leu Asp 1 5 326 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 326Glu Asn Lys Val Val Ile Leu Asp Ser 1 5 327 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 327Asn Lys Val Val Ile Leu Asp Ser Phe 1 5 328 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 328Lys Val Val Ile Leu Asp Ser Phe Asp 1 5 329 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 329Val Val Ile Leu Asp Ser Phe Asp Pro 1 5 330 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 330Val Ile Leu Asp Ser Phe Asp Pro Leu 1 5 331 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 331Ile Leu Asp Ser Phe Asp Pro Leu Val 1 5 332 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 332Leu Asp Ser Phe Asp Pro Leu Val Ala 1 5 333 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 333Asp Ser Phe Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Glu 1 5 334 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 334Ser Phe Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Glu Glu 1 5 335 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 335Phe Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Glu Glu Asp 1 5 336 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 336Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Glu Glu Asp Glu 1 5 337 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 337Pro Leu Val Ala Glu Glu Asp Glu Arg 1 5 338 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 338Leu Val Ala Glu Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu 1 5 339 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 339Val Ala Glu Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile 1 5 340 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 340Ala Glu Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser 1 5 341 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 341Glu Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val 1 5 342 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 342Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro 1 5 343 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 343Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala 1 5 344 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 344Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu 1 5 345 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 345Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile 1 5 346 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 346Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu 1 5 347 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 347Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg 1 5 348 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 348Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys 1 5 349 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 349Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 350 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 350Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg 1 5 351 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 351Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg 1 5 352 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 352Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe 1 5 353 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 353Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala 1 5 354 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 354Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln 1 5 355 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 355Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala 1 5 356 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 356Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu 1 5 357 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 357Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro 1 5 358 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 358Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val 1 5 359 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 359Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp 1 5 360 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 360Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala 1 5 361 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 361Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg 1 5 362 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 362Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro 1 5 363 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 363Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp 1 5 364 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 364Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr 1 5 365 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 365Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn 1 5 366 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 366Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro 1 5 367 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 367Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro 1 5 368 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 368Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu 1 5 369 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 369Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val 1 5 370 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 370Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu 1 5 371 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 371Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr 1 5 372 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 372Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp 1 5 373 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 373Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys 1 5 374 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 374Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys 1 5 375 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 375Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro 1 5 376 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 376Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp 1 5 377 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 377Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr 1 5 378 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 378Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu 1 5 379 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 379Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro 1 5 380 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 380Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro 1 5 381 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 381Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val 1 5 382 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 382Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val 1 5 383 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 383Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val 1 5 384 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 384Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly 1 5 385 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 385Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys 1 5 386 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 386Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro 1 5 387 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 387Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu 1 5 388 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 388Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro 1 5 389 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 389Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro 1 5 390 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 390Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro 1 5 391 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 391His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys 1 5 392 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 392Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser 1 5 393 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 393Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser Pro 1 5 394 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 394Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro 1 5 395 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 395Leu Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro Val 1 5 396 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 396Pro Pro Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro Val Pro 1 5 397 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 397Pro Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro 1 5 398 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 398Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro Pro 1 5 399 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 399Lys Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro Pro Arg 1 5 400 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 400Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro Pro Arg Lys 1 5 401 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 401Pro Pro Val Pro Pro Pro Arg Lys Lys 1 5 402 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 402Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile Val Gly 20 25 30 403 39 PRT Hepatitis C virus 403Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln 20 25 30Pro Ile Pro Glu Val Arg Arg 35 404 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 404Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln 1 5 10 15Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala 20 25 30 405 32 PRT Hepatitis C virus 405Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20 25 30 406 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 406Gly Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 407 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 407Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Arg Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 408 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 408Gly His Thr Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 409 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 409Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 410 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 410Gly His Thr Arg Val Thr Gly Gly Val Gln Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg 20 411 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 411Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg Pro Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 412 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 412Gly His Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Arg Val Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser 20 413 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 413Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 414 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 414Gly Asp Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Gln Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala 20 415 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 415Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala Ser Gly Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 416 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 416Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly 1 5 10 15Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala 20 417 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 417Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala Pro Gly Pro Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asn Val His Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 418 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 418Ala Glu Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr 20 419 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 419Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 420 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 420Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Thr Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 421 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 421Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asp Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 422 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 422Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys 1 5 423 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 423Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 424 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 424Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro 1 5 425 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 425Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg 1 5 426 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 426Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu 1 5 427 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 427Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr 1 5 428 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 428Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg 1 5 429 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 429Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys 1 5 430 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 430Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro 1 5 431 8 PRT Hepatitis C virus 431Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu 1 5 432 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 432Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu 1 5 433 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 433His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu 1 5 434 8 PRT Hepatitis C virus 434Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu 1 5 435 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 435Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys 1 5 436 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 436Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly 1 5 437 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 437Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 438 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 438Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys 1 5 439 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 439Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg 1 5 440 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 440Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala 1 5 441 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 441Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro 1 5 442 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 442Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys 1 5 443 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 443Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val 1 5 444 5 PRT Hepatitis C virus 444His Gly Cys Pro Leu 1 5 445 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 445Gly Ala Leu Val Ala Phe Lys Ile Met Ser Gly Glu Val Pro Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Glu Asp Leu Val 20 446 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 446Val Pro Ser Thr Glu Asp Leu Val Asn Leu Leu Pro Ala Ile Leu Ser 1 5 10 15Pro Gly Ala Leu 20 447 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 447Ala Ile Leu Ser Pro Gly Ala Leu Val Val Gly Val Val Cys Ala Ala 1 5 10 15Ile Leu Arg Arg 20 448 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 448Val Cys Ala Ala Ile Leu Arg Arg His Val Gly Pro Gly Glu Gly Ala 1 5 10 15Val Gln Trp Met 20 449 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 449Gly Glu Gly Ala Val Gln Trp Met Asn Arg Leu Ile Ala Phe Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Arg Gly Asn His 20 450 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 450Gly Gly Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Gly Gly Lys Lys Pro 1 5 10 15Asp Thr Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Gly Gly Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys 20 25 30Phe Pro 451 33 PRT Hepatitis C virus 451Gly Gly Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Gly Gly Gln Phe Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Gly Ser Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg 20 25 30Gly 452 33 PRT Hepatitis C virus 452Gly Gly Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Gly Gly Ser Gln His 1 5 10 15Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Ser Gly Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu 20 25 30Pro 453 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 453Gly Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ala Ser Gln Arg Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 454 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 454Gly His Thr Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 455 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 455Gly His Thr Arg Val Thr Gly Gly Val Gln Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg Pro Gly Ala Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 456 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 456Gly His Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Arg Val Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val 20 25 30Asn Thr 457 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 457Gly Asp Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Gln Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala Ser Gly Pro Ser Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 458 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 458Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly 1 5 10 15Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala Pro Gly Pro Lys Gln Asn Val His Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 459 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 459Ala Glu Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 460 34 PRT Hepatitis C virus 460Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Thr Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys Gln Asp Ile Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30Asn Thr 461 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 461Gly Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 462 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 462Ser His Thr Thr Ser Thr Leu Ala Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Arg Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 463 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 463Gly His Thr Arg Val Ser Gly Gly Ala Ala Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 464 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 464Ala Ser Asp Thr Arg Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Pro Gly Ser Ala 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 465 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 465Gly His Thr Arg Val Thr Gly Gly Val Gln Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr 1 5 10 15Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg 20 466 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 466Gly His Val Thr Cys Thr Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Arg Pro Gly Ala Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 467 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 467Gly His Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Arg Val Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser 20 468 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 468Ala Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser Leu Val Ser Trp Leu Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Val Asn Thr 20 469 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 469Gly Asp Thr His Val Thr Gly Gly Ala Gln Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala 20 470 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 470Ala Lys Thr Thr Asn Arg Leu Val Ser Met Phe Ala Ser Gly Pro Ser 1 5 10 15Gln Lys Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 471 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 471Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Ser Gly Gly Asn Ala Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly 1 5 10 15Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala 20 472 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 472Gly His Thr Met Thr Gly Ile Val Arg Phe Phe Ala Pro Gly Pro Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asn Val His Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 473 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 473Ala Glu Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr 20 474 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 474Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 475 22 PRT Hepatitis C virus 475Ala Glu Thr Tyr Thr Thr Gly Gly Ser Thr Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly 1 5 10 15Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser 20 476 24 PRT Hepatitis C virus 476Ala Arg Thr Thr Gln Gly Leu Val Ser Leu Phe Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys 1 5 10 15Gln Asp Ile Gln Leu Ile Asn Thr 20 477 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 477Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys 1 5 478 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 478Pro Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg 1 5 479 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 479Lys Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn 1 5 480 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 480Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr 1 5 481 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 481Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn 1 5 482 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 482Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg 1 5 483 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 483Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg 1 5 484 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 484Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro 1 5 485 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 485Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro 1 5 486 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 486Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly 1 5 487 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 487Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly 1 5 488 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 488Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly 1 5 489 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 489Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln 1 5 490 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 490Gly Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg 1 5 491 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 491Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly 1 5 492 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 492Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro 1 5 493 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 493Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg 1 5 494 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 494Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu 1 5 495 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 495Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly 1 5 496 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 496Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val 1 5 497 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 497Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr 1 5 498 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 498Pro Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg 1 5 499 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 499Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg Lys 1 5 500 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 500Glu Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg 1 5 501 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 501Arg Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln 1 5 502 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 502Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro 1 5 503 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 503Arg Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys 1 5 504 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 504Gly Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val 1 5 505 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 505Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg 1 5 506 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 506Pro Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu 1 5 507 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 507Pro Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro 1 5 508 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 508Glu Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly 1 5 509 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 509Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr 1 5 510 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 510Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro 1 5 511 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 511Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp 1 5 512 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 512Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro 1 5 513 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 513Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu 1 5 514 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 514Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr 1 5 515 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 515Leu Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro 1 5 516 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 516Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg 1 5 517 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 517Pro Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val 1 5 518 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 518Ala Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu 1 5 519 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 519Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr 1 5 520 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 520Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg 1 5 521 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 521Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu 1 5 522 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 522Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu Phe 1 5 523 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 523Cys Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu 1 5 524 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 524Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln 1 5 525 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 525Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly 1 5 526 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 526His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met 1 5 527 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 527Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met 1 5 528 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 528Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu 1 5 529 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 529Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala 1 5 530 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 530Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu 1 5 531 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 531Met Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln 1 5 532 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 532Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys 1 5 533 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 533Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala 1 5 534 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 534Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu 1 5 535 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 535Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly 1 5 536 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 536Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu 1 5 537 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 537Phe Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu 1 5 538 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 538Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln 1 5 539 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 539Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr 1 5 540 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 540Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 541 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 541Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser 1 5 542 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 542Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg 1 5 543 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 543Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln 1 5 544 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 544Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala 1 5 545 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 545Ser Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys 1 5 546 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 546Val Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser 1 5 547 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 547Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg 1 5 548 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 548Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg 1 5 549 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 549Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe 1 5 550 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 550Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala 1 5 551 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 551Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg 1 5 552 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 552Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro 1 5 553 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 553Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp 1 5 554 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 554Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro 1 5 555 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 555Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro 1 5 556 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 556Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu 1 5 557 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 557Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val 1 5 558 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 558Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Leu Val Glu 1 5 559 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 559Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys 1 5 560 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 560Pro Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro 1 5 561 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 561Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp 1 5 562 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 562Trp Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr 1 5 563 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 563Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu 1 5 564 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 564Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro 1 5 565 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 565Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro 1 5 566 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 566Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val 1 5 567 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 567Lys Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val 1 5 568 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 568Pro Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His 1 5 569 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 569Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly 1 5 570 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 570Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys 1 5 571 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 571Pro Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu 1 5 572 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 572Pro Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro 1 5 573 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 573Val Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro 1 5 574 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 574Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Lys 1 5 575 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 575His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro Lys Ser 1 5 576 9 PRT Hepatitis C virus 576Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro Pro Arg Lys 1 5 577 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 577Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys 1 5 578 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 578Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys 1 5 579 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 579Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe Pro 1 5 580 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 580Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg 1 5 581 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 581Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu 1 5 582 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 582Arg Leu Gly Val Arg Ala Thr 1 5 583 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 583Ser Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg 1 5 584 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 584Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys 1 5 585 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 585Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro 1 5 586 8 PRT Hepatitis C virus 586Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu 1 5 587 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 587Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu 1 5 588 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 588His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu 1 5 589 8 PRT Hepatitis C virus 589Tyr Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu 1 5 590 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 590Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys 1 5 591 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 591Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly 1 5 592 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 592Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala 1 5 593 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 593Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys 1 5 594 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 594Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg 1 5 595 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 595Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp Ala 1 5 596 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 596Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro 1 5 597 7 PRT Hepatitis C virus 597Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys 1 5 598 6 PRT Hepatitis C virus 598Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val 1 5 599 5 PRT Hepatitis C virus 599His Gly Cys Pro Leu 1 5 600 20 PRT Hepatitis C virus 600Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr Gly Asn 1 5 10 15Glu Gly Cys Gly 20

Claims

1. A peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 454(A)-GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT-(Z) (SEQ ID NO 454), wherein A, when present, represents an amino acid, amino group, or chemically modified amino terminus of the peptide, and wherein Z, when present, represents an amino acid, OH-group, NH2-group, or a linkage involving an OH-group or an NH2-group or a peptide fragment consisting of at least 5 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 454 which is immunologically reactive with HCV antisera.

2. A peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 454(A)-GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT-(Z) (SEQ ID NO 454), wherein A, when present, represents an amino acid, amino group, or chemically modified amino terminus of the peptide, and wherein Z, when present, represents an amino acid, OH-group, NH2-group, or a linkage involving an OH-group or an NH2-group; or a peptide fragment consisting of at least 5 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 454 which is immunologically reactive with HCV antisera; and said peptide or peptide fragment containing at least one N-terminal biotin group, C-terminal biotin group or biotin group attached to an internal amino acid; said biotin group being attached directly to the peptide or peptide fragment or attached to the peptide or peptide fragment through a linker Y; said linker Y consisting of 1 to 10 chemical entities selected from the group consisting of a glycine residue, beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid.

3. A peptide complex comprising the peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 2 coupled to at least one streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule.

4. The peptide complex according to claim 3 wherein said streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule is coupled to a solid phase.

5. A solid phase comprising a peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 1 or 2 and a solid support wherein the solid support is anchored to the peptide via at least one covalent or non-covalent bond.

6. A solid phase according to claim 5, wherein said solid support is a nylon membrane and said peptide or peptide fragment is anchored via a biotin group to streptavidin present on the nylon membrane.

7. The solid phase according to claim 5 wherein said solid support is a nylon membrane.

8. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to any of claim 1 or 2, or a peptide complex of claim 3.

9. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to any of claim 1 or 2, or a peptide complex of claim 3.

10. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to any of claim 1 or 2, or a peptide complex of claim 3.

11. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to any of claim 1 or 2, or a peptide complex of claim 3.

12. A peptide or peptide fragment of claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one of A and Z are not present.

13. A peptide complex of claim 3 wherein at least one of A and Z are not present.

14. The peptide complex according to claim 13 wherein said streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule is coupled to a solid phase.

15. A sold phase comprising a peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 12 and a solid support wherein the solid support is anchored to the peptide via at least one covalent or non-covalent bond.

16. A solid phase according to claim 15, wherein said solid support is a nylon membrane and said peptide or peptide fragment is anchored via a biotin group to streptavidin present on the nylon membrane.

17. The solid phase according to claim 15, wherein said solid support is a nylon membrane.

18. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 12.

19. A Line Immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 12.

20. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 12.

21. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 12.

22. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising a peptide complex of claim 13.

23. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising a peptide complex of claim 13.

24. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising a peptide complex of claim 13.

25. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising a peptide complex of claim 13.

26. A peptide fragment according to claim 2, consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 408;GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFS (SEQ ID NO 408), which is immunologically reactive with HCV antisera; and said peptide fragment containing at least one N-terminal biotin group, C-terminal biotin group, biotin group attached to an internal amino acid or no biotin group; said biotin group, when present, being attached directly to the peptide or peptide fragment or attached to the peptide or peptide fragment through a linker Y; said linker Y consisting of 1 to 10 chemical entities selected from the group consisting of a glycine residue, beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid.

27. A peptide fragment according to claim 2 consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 409:ASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT (SEQ ID NO 409), which is immunologically reactive with HCV antisera; and said peptide fragment containing at least one N-terminal biotin group, C-terminal biotin group, biotin group attached to an internal amino acid or no biotin group; said biotin group, which present, being attached directly to the peptide or peptide fragment or attached to the peptide or peptide fragment through a linker Y; said linker Y consisting of 1 to 10 chemical entities selected from the group consisting of a glycine residue! beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid.

28. A peptide complex comprising a peptide fragment according to claim 26 or 27, coupled to at least one streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule.

29. The peptide complex according to claim 28, wherein said streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule is coupled to a solid phase.

30. A solid phase comprising a peptide fragment according to claim 26 or 27 and a solid support wherein the solid support is anchored to the peptide fragment via at least one covalent or non-covalent bond.

31. A solid phase according to claim 30, wherein said solid support is a nylon membrane and said peptide fragment is anchored via a biotin group to streptavidin present on the nylon membrane.

32. The solid phase according to claim 30, wherein said solid support is a nylon membrane.

33. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide fragment according to any of claim 26 or 27.

34. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide complex of claim 28.

35. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide fragment according to any of claim 26 or 27.

36. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide complex of claim 28.

37. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide fragment according to any of claim 26 or 27.

38. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one a peptide complex of claim 28.

39. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide fragment according to any of claim 26 or 27.

40. A Line immunoassay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV present in a biological sample comprising at least one peptide complex of claim 28.

41. A peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 454(A)-THTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT-(Z) (SEQ ID NO 454), wherein A, when present, represents an amino acid, amino group, or chemically modified amino terminus of the peptide, and wherein Z, when present, represents an amino acid, OH-group, NH2-group, or a linkage involving an OH-group or an NH2-group; or a peptide fragment consisting of at least 5 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 454.

42. A peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 454(A)-GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT-(Z) (SEQ ID NO 454), wherein A, when present, represents an amino acid, amino group, or chemically modified amino terminus of the peptide, and wherein Z, when present, represents an amino acid, OH-group, NH2-group, or a linkage involving an OH-group or an NH2-group; or a peptide fragment consisting of at least 5 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 454; and said peptide or peptide fragment containing at least one N-terminal biotin group, C-terminal biotin group or biotin group attached to an internal amino acid; said biotin group being attached directly to the peptide or peptide fragment or attached to the peptide or peptide fragment through a linker Y; said linker Y consisting of 1 to 10 chemical entities selected from the group consisting of a glycine residue, beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid.

43. A peptide complex comprising the peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 42 coupled to at least one streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule.

44. The peptide complex according to claim 43 wherein said streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule is coupled to a solid phase.

45. A solid phase comprising a peptide or peptide fragment according to claim 41 or 42 and a solid support wherein the solid support is anchored to the peptide via at least one covalent or non-covalent bond.

46. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide or peptide fragment according to any of claim 41 or 42, or a peptide complex or claim 43.

47. A peptide or peptide fragment of claim 41 or 42 wherein at least one of A and Z are not present.

48. A peptide complex of claim 43 wherein at least one of A and Z are not present.

49. A peptide fragment according to claim 42 consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 408:GHTRVSGGAAASDTRGLVSLFS (SEQ ID NO 408); and said peptide fragment containing at least one N-terminal biotin group, C-terminal biotin group, biotin group attached to an internal amino acid or no biotin group; said biotin group, when present, being attached directly to the peptide or peptide fragment or attached to the peptide or peptide fragment through a linker Y; said linker Y consisting of 1 to 10 chemical entities selected from the group consisting of a glycine residue, beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid.

50. A peptide fragment according to claim 42 consisting of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 409:ASDTRGLVSLFSPGSAQKIQLVNT (SEQ ID NO 409); and said peptide fragment containing at least one N-terminal biotin group, C-terminal biotin group, biotin group attached to an internal amino acid or no biotin group; said biotin group, when present, being attached directly to the peptide or peptide fragment or attached to the peptide or peptide fragment through a linker Y; said linker Y consisting of 1 to 10 chemical entities selected from the group consisting of a glycine residue! beta-alanine, 4-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid and 6-aminohexanoic acid.

51. A peptide complex comprising a peptide fragment according to claim 49 or 50 coupled to at least one streptavidin molecule or avidin molecule.

52. An immunological assay kit for detecting antibodies to HCV comprising at least one peptide fragment according to any of claim 49 or 50.