Synthetic antigens for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus

Abstract

Peptide sequences are provided which are capable of mimicking proteins encoded by HCV for use as reagents for screening of blood and blood products for prior exposure to HCV. The peptides are at least 5 amino acids long and can be used in various specific assays for the detection of antibodies to HCV, for the detection of HCV antigens, or as immunogens.

Description

The implementation of systematic testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been instrumental in eliminating this virus from the blood supply. Nevertheless, a significant number of post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) cases still occur. These cases are generally attributable to non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) virus(es), the diagnosis of which is usually made by exclusion of other viral markers.

The etiological agent responsible for a large proportion of these cases has recently been cloned (Choo, Q-L et al. Science (1988) 244:359-362) and a first-generation antibody test developed (Kuo, G. et al. Science (1989) 244:362-364). The agent has been identified as a positive-stranded RNA virus, and the sequence of its genome has been partially determined. Studies suggest that this virus, referred to subsequently as hepatitis C virus (HCV), may be related to flaviviruses and pestiviruses. A portion of the genome of an HCV isolated from a chimpanzee (HCV.sub.CDC/CHI) is disclosed in EPO 88310922.5. The coding sequences disclosed in this document do not include sequences originating from the 5'-end of the viral genome which code for putative structural proteins. Recently however, sequences derived from this region of the HCV genome have been published (Okamoto, H. et al., Japan J. Exp. Med. 60:167-177, 1990.). The amino acid sequences encoded by the Japanese clone HC-J1 were combined with the HCV.sub.CDC/CHI sequences in a region where the two sequences overlap to generate the composite sequence depicted in FIG. 1. Specifically, the two sequences were joined at glycine.sub.451. It should be emphasized that the numbering system used for the HCV amino acid sequence is not intended to be absolute since the existence of variant HCV strains harboring deletions or insertions is highly probable. Sequences corresponding to the 5' end of the HCV genome have also recently been disclosed in EPO 90302866.0.

In order to detect potential carriers of HCV, it is necessary to have access to large amounts of viral proteins. In the case of HCV, there is currently no known method for culturing the virus, which precludes the use of virus-infected cultures as a source of viral antigens. The current first-generation antibody test makes use of a fusion protein containing a sequence of 363 amino acids encoded by the HCV genome. It was found that antibodies to this protein could be detected in 75 to 85% of chronic NANBH patients. In contrast, only approximately 15% of those patients who were in the acute phase of the disease, had antibodies which recognized this fusion protein (Kuo, G. et al. Science (1989) 244:362-364). The absence of suitable confirmatory tests, however, makes it difficult to verify these statistics. The seeming similarity between the HCV genome and that of flaviviruses makes it possible to predict the location of epitopes which are likely to be of diagnostic value. An analysis of the HCV genome reveals the presence of a continuous long open reading frame. Viral RNA is presumably translated into a long polyprotein which is subsequently cleaved by cellular and/or viral proteases. By analogy with, for example, Dengue virus, the viral structural proteins are presumed to be derived from the amino-terminal third of the viral polyprotein. At the present time, the precise sites at which the polyprotein is cleaved can only be surmised. Nevertheless, the structural proteins are likely to contain epitopes which would be useful for diagnostic purposes, both for the detection of antibodies as well as for raising antibodies which could subsequently be used for the detection of viral antigens. Similarly, domains of nonstructural proteins are also expected to contain epitopes of diagnostic value, even though these proteins are not found as structural components of virus particles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D shows the amino acid sequence of the composite HCV.sub.HC-J1/CDC/CHI (SEQ ID NO: 23)

FIGS. 2A-2L show the antibody binding to individual peptides and various mixtures in an ELISA assay. Coating combinations used for FIGS. 2A-2L are as follows: 1:IX, 2:XVIII, 3:I, 4:III, 5:V, 6:IX+XVIII, 7:I+XVIII, 8:I+III+IX, 9:I+III+V+XVIII, 10:I+III+V+IX, 11:I+III+IX+XVIII, 12:I+III+V+IX+XVIII.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

It is known that RNA viruses frequently exhibit a high rate of spontaneous mutation and, as such, it is to be expected that no two HCV isolates will be completely identical, even when derived from the same individual. For the purpose of this disclosure, a virus is considered to be the same or equivalent to HCV if it exhibits a global homology of 60 percent or more with the HCV.sub.HC-J1/CDC/CHI composite sequence at the nucleic acid level and 70 percent at the amino acid level.

Peptides are described which immunologically mimic proteins encoded by HCV. In order to accommodate strain-to-strain variations in sequence, conservative as well as non-conservative amino acid substitutions may be made. These will generally account for less than 35 percent of a specific sequence. It may be desirable in cases where a peptide corresponds to a region in the HCV polypeptide which is highly polymorphic, to vary one or more of the amino acids so as to better mimic the different epitopes of different viral strains.

The peptides of interest will include at least five, sometimes six, sometimes eight, sometimes twelve, usually fewer than about fifty, more usually fewer than about thirty-five, and preferably fewer than about twenty-five amino acids included within the sequence encoded by the HCV genome. In each instance, the peptide will preferably be as small as possible while still maintaining substantially all of the sensitivity of the larger peptide. It may also be desirable in certain instances to join two or more peptides together in one peptide structure.

It should be understood that the peptides described need not be identical to any particular HCV sequence, so 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 or non-conservative amino acid substitutions where such changes might provide for certain advantages in their use.

Substitutions which are considered conservative are those in which the chemical nature of the substitute is similar to that of the original amino acid. Combinations of amino acids which could be considered conservative are Gly, Ala; Asp, Glu; Asn, Gln; Val, Ile, Leu; Ser, Thr; Lys, Arg; and Phe, Tyr.

Furthermore, additional amino acids or chemical groups may be added to the amino- or carboxyl terminus for the purpose of creating a "linker arm" by which the peptide can conveniently be attached to a carrier. The linker arm will be at least one amino acid and may be as many as 60 amino acids but will most frequently be 1 to 10 amino acids. The nature of the attachment to a solid phase or carrier need not be covalent.

Natural amino acids such as cysteine, lysine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, or aspartic acid may be added to either the amino- or carboxyl terminus to provide functional groups for coupling to a solid phase or a carrier. However, other chemical groups such as, for example, biotin and thioglycolic acid, may be added to the termini which will endow the peptides with desired chemical or physical properties. The termini of the peptides may also be modified, for example, by N-terminal acetylation or terminal carboxy-amidation. The peptides of interest are described in relation to the composite amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1. The amino acid sequences are given in the conventional and universally accepted three-letter code. In addition to the amino acids shown, other groups are defined as follows: Y is, for example, NH.sub.2, one or more N-terminal amino acids, or other moieties added to facilitate coupling. Y may itself be modified by, for example, acetylation. Z is a bond, (an) amino acid(s), or (a) chemical group(s) which may be used for linking. X is intended to represent OH, NH.sub.2, or a linkage involving either of these two groups.

Peptide I, shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, corresponds to amino acids 1 to 20 and has the amino acid sequence:

(I)

Y-Met-Ser-Thr-Ile-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Z-X.

Peptide II, shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, corresponds to amino acids 7 to 26 and has the amino acid sequence:

(II)

Y-Pro-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly-Z-X.

Of particular interest is the oligopeptide IIA, shown in SEQ ID NO: 3, which has the sequence

(IIA)

Y-Gln-Arg-Lys-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Z-X.

Peptide III, shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 corresponds to amino acids 13 to 32 and has the sequence:

(III)

Y-Arg-Asn-Thr-Asn-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gln-Asp-Val-Lys-Phe-Pro-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gln-Ile-Val-Gly-Z-X.

Peptide IV, shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 corresponds to amino acid 37 to 56 and has the sequence:

(IV)

Y-Leu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Leu-Gly-Val-Arg-Ala-Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Z-X.

Peptide V, shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 corresponds to amino acids 49 to 68 and has the sequence:

(V)

Y-Thr-Arg-Lys-Thr-Ser-Glu-Arg-Ser-Gln-Pro-Arg-Gly-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val-Z-X.

Peptide VI, shown in SEQ ID NO: 7 corresponds to amino acid 61 to 80 and has the following sequence:

(VI)

Y-Arg-Arg-Gln-Pro-Ile-Pro-Lys-Val-Arg-Arg-Pro-Glu-Gly-Arg-Thr-Trp-Ala-Gln-Pro-Gly-Z-X.

Peptide VII, shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 corresponds to amino acids 73 to 92 and has the sequence:

(VII)

Y-Gly-Arg-Thr-Trp-Ala-Gln-Pro-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Pro-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Asn-Glu-Gly-Cys-Gly-Z-X.

Peptide VIII, shown in SEQ ID NO: 9 corresponds to amino acids 1688 to 1707 and has the sequence:

(VIII)

Y-Leu-Ser-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Ile-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Z-X.

Peptide IX, shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 corresponds to amino acids 1694 to 1713 and has the sequence:

(IX)

Y-Ile-Ile-Pro-Asp-Arg-Glu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Arg-Glu-Phe-Asp-Glu-Met-GIu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln-Z-X.

Peptide X, shown in SEQ ID NO: 11 corresponds to amino acids 1706 to 1725 and has the sequence:

(X)

Y-Asp-Glu-Met-Glu-Glu-Cys-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Z-X.

Peptide XI, shown in SEQ ID NO: 12 corresponds to amino acids 1712 to 1731 and has the sequence:

(XI)

Y-Ser-Gln-His-Leu-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Z-X.

Peptide XII, shown in SEQ ID NO: 13 corresponds to amino acids 1718 to 1737 and has the sequence:

(XII)

Y-Ile-Glu-Gln-Gly-Met-Met-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Z-X.

Peptide XIII, shown in SEQ ID NO: 14 corresponds to amino acids 1724 to 1743 and has the sequence:

(XIII)

Y-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gln-Phe-Lys-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Thr-Ala-Ser-Arg-Gln-Ala-Z-X.

Peptide XIV, shown in SEQ ID NO: 15 corresponds to amino acids 1730 to 1749 and has the sequence:

(XIV)

Y-Gln-Lys-Ala-Leu-Gly-Leu-Leu-Gln-Thr-Ala-Ser-Arg-Gln-Ala-Glu-Val-Ile-Ala-Pro-Ala-Z-X.

Peptide XV, shown in SEQ ID NO: 16 corresponds to amino acids 2263 to 2282 and has the sequence:

(XV)

Y-Glu-Asp-Glu-Arg-Glu-Ile-Ser-Val-Pro-Ala-Glu-Ile-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Z-X.

Peptide XVI, shown in SEQ ID NO: 17 corresponds to amino acids 2275 to 2294 and has the sequence:

(XVI)

Y-Leu-Arg-Lys-Ser-Arg-Arg-Phe-Ala-Gln-Ala-Leu-Pro-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Z-X.

Peptide XVII, shown in SEQ ID NO: 18 corresponds to amino acids 2287 to 2306 and has the sequence:

(XVII)

Y-Val-Trp-Ala-Arg-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asn-Pro-Pro-Leu-Val-Glu-Thr-Trp-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Z-X.

Peptide XVIII, shown in SEQ ID NO: 19 corresponds to amino acids 2299 to 2318 and has the sequence:

(XVIII)

Y-Glu-Thr-Trp-Lys-Lys-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Pro-Val-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Z-X.

Peptide XIX, shown in SEQ ID NO: 20 corresponds to amino acids 2311 to 2330 and has the sequence:

(XIX)

Y-Val-His-Gly-Cys-Pro-Leu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Lys-Ser-Pro-Pro-Val-Pro-Pro-Pro-Arg-Lys-Lys-Z-X.

Of particular interest is the use of the mercapto-group of cysteines or thioglycolic acids used for acylating terminal amino groups for cyclizing the peptides or coupling two peptides together. The cyclization or coupling may occur via a single bond or may be accomplished using thiol-specific reagents to form a molecular bridge.

The peptides may be coupled to a soluble carrier for the purpose of either raising antibodies or facilitating the adsorption of the peptides to a solid phase. The nature of the carrier should be such that it has a molecular weight greater than 5000 and should not be recognized by antibodies in human serum. Generally, the carrier will be a protein. Proteins which are frequently used as carriers are keyhole limpet hemocyanin, bovine gamma globulin, bovine serum albumin, and poly-L-lysine.

There are many well described techniques for coupling peptides to carriers. The linkage may occur at the N-terminus, C-terminus or at an internal site in the peptide. The peptide may also be derivatized for coupling. Detailed descriptions of a wide variety of coupling procedures are given, for example, 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, N.Y., Oxford, 1988.

The peptides may also be synthesized directly on an oligo-lysine core in which both the alpha as well as the epsilon-amino groups of lysines are used as growth points for the peptides. The number of lysines comprising the core is preferably 3 or 7. Additionally, a cysteine may be included near or at the C-terminus of the complex to facilitate the formation of homo- or heterodimers. The use of this technique has been amply illustrated for hepatitis B antigens (Tam, J. P., and Lu, Y- A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1989) 86:9084-9088) as well as for a variety of other antigens (see Tam, J. P., Multiple Antigen Peptide System: A Novel Design for Synthetic Peptide Vaccine and Immunoassay, in Synthetic Peptides, Approaches to Biological Problems, Tam, J. P., and Kaiser, E. T., ed. Alan R. Liss Inc., New York, 1989).

Depending on their intended use, the peptides may be either labeled or unlabeled. Labels which may be employed may be of any type, such as enzymatic, chemical, fluorescent, luminescent, or radioactive. In addition, the peptides may be modified for binding to surfaces or solid phases, such as, for example, microtiter plates, nylon membranes, glass or plastic beads, and chromatographic supports such as cellulose, silica, or agarose. The methods by which peptides can be attached or bound to solid support or surface are well known to those versed in the art.

Of particular interest is the use of mixtures of peptides for the detection of antibodies specific for hepatitis C virus. Mixtures of peptides which are considered particularly advantageous are:

A. II, III, V, IX, and XVIII B. I, II, V, IX, XI, XVI, and XVIII C. II, III, IV, V, VIII, XI, XVI, and XVIII D. II, IX, and XVIII E. II, III, IV, and V F. VIII, IX, XI, XIII, and XIV G. XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, and XIX

Antibodies which recognize the peptides can be detected in a variety of ways. A preferred method of detection is the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) in which a peptide or mixture of peptides is bound to a solid support. In most cases, this will be a microtiter plate but may in principle be any sort of insoluble solid phase. A suitable dilution or dilutions of serum or other body fluid to be tested 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 using antibodies which specifically bind to human immunoglobulins, and which have been labeled with an enzyme, preferably but not limited to either horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or beta-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. Alternatively, the detection system may employ an enzyme which, in the presence of the proper substrate(s), emits light. The amount of product formed is detected either visually, spectrophotometrically, electrochemically, or luminometrically, and is compared to a similarly treated control. The detection system may also employ radioactively labeled antibodies, in which case the amount of immune complex is quantified by scintillation counting or gamma counting.

Other detection systems which may be used include those based on the use of protein A derived from Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I, protein G from group C Staphylococcus sp. (strain 26RP66), or systems which make use of the high affinity biotin-avidin or streptavidin binding reaction.

Antibodies raised to carrier-bound peptides can also be used in conjunction with labeled peptides for the detection of antibodies present in serum or other body fluids by competition assay. In this case, antibodies raised to carrier-bound peptides are attached to a solid support which may be, for example, a plastic bead or a plastic tube. Labeled peptide is then mixed with suitable dilutions of the fluid to be tested and this mixture is subsequently brought into contact with the antibody bound to the solid support. After a suitable incubation period, the solid support is washed and the amount of labeled peptide is quantified. A reduction in the amount of label bound to the solid support is indicative of the presence of antibodies in the original sample. By the same token, the peptide may also be bound to the solid support. Labeled antibody may then be allowed to compete with antibody present in the sample under conditions in which the amount of peptide is limiting. As in the previous example, a reduction in the measured signal is indicative of the presence of antibodies in the sample tested.

Another preferred method of antibody detection is the homogeneous immunoassay. There are many possible variations in the design of such assays. By way of example, numerous possible configurations for homogeneous enzyme immunoassays and methods by which they may be performed are given in Tijssen, P., Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoassays, Elsevier Press, Amersham, Oxford, N.Y., 1985. Detection systems which may be employed include those based on enzyme channeling, bioluminescence, allosteric activation and allosteric inhibition. Methods employing liposome-entrapped enzymes or co-enzymes may also be used (see Pinnaduwage, P. and Huang, L., Clin. Chem. (1988) 34/2: 268-272, and Ullman, E. F. et al., Clin. Chem. (1987) 33/9: 1579-1584 for examples).

The synthesis of the peptides can be achieved in solution or on a solid support. Synthesis protocols generally employ the use t-butyloxycarbonyl- or 9-fluorenylmethoxy-carbonyl-protected activated amino acids. The procedures for carrying out the syntheses, the types of side-chain protection, and the cleavage methods 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, 1984 .

Experimental

I. Peptide Synthesis

All of the peptides described were synthesized on Pepsyn K polyamide-Kieselguhr resin (Milligen, Novato, Calif.) which had been functionalized with ethylenediamine and onto which the acid-labile linker 4-(alpha-Fmoc-amino-2',4'-dimethoxybenzyl) phenoxyacetic acid had been coupled (Rink, Tetrahedron Lett. (1987) 28:3787). t-Butyl-based side-chain protection and Fmoc alpha-amino-protection was used. The guanidino-group of arginine was protected by the 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethylchroman-6-sulfonyl moiety. The imidazole group of histidine was protected by either t-Boc or trityl and the sulfhydryl group of cysteine was protected by a trityl group. Couplings were carried out using performed O-pentafluorophenyl esters except in the case of arginine where diisopropylcarbodiimide-mediated hydroxybenzotriazole ester formation was employed. Except for peptide I, all peptides were N-acetylated using acetic anhydride. All syntheses were 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 C.sub.18 -reverse phase chromatography.

II. Detection of Antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus

A. Use of peptides bound to a nylon membrane.

Peptides were dissolved in a suitable buffer to make a concentrated stock solution which was then further diluted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or sodium carbonate buffer, pH 9.6 to make working solutions. The peptides were applied as lines on a nylon membrane (Pall, Portsmouth, United Kingdom), after which the membrane was treated with casein to block unoccupied binding sites. The membrane was subsequently cut into strips perpendicular to the direction of the peptide lines. Each strip was then incubated with a serum sample diluted 1 to 100, obtained from an HCV-infected individual. Antibody binding was detected by incubating the strips with goat anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies conjugated to the enzyme alkaline phosphatase. After removing unbound conjugate by washing, a substrate solution containing 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate and nitro blue tetrazolium was added.

Positive reactions are visible as colored lines corresponding to the positions of the peptides which are specifically recognized. The reaction patterns of thirty-six different sera are tabulated in Table 1. The results shown in Table 1 are further summarized in Table 2.

B. Use of peptides in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Peptide stock solutions were diluted in sodium carbonate buffer, pH 9.6 and used to coat microtiter plates at a peptide concentration of 2 micrograms per milliliter. A mixture consisting of peptides II, III, V, IX, and XVIII was also used to coat plates. Following coating, the plates were blocked with casein. Fifteen HCV-antibody-positive sera and control sera from seven uninfected blood donors were diluted 1 to 20 and incubated in wells of the peptide-coated plates. 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.sub.2 O.sub.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. The results of these determinations are tabulated in Table 3. To correct for any aspecific binding which could be attributable to the physical or chemical properties of the peptides themselves, a cut-off value was determined for each peptide individually. This cut-off absorbance value was calculated as the average optical density of the negative samples plus 0.200. Samples giving absorbance values higher than the cut-off values are considered positive. The results for the fifteen positive serum samples are further summarized in Table 4.

While it is evident that some of the peptides are recognized by a large percentage of sera from HCV-infected individuals, it is also clear that no single peptide is recognized by all sera. In contrast, the peptide mixture was recognized by all fifteen sera and, for six of the fifteen sera, the optical densities obtained were equal to or higher than those obtained for any of the peptides individually. These results serve to illustrate the advantages of using mixtures of peptides for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies.

C. Binding of antibodies in sera from HCV-infected patients to various individual peptides and peptide mixtures in an ELISA.

Five peptides were used individually and in seven different combinations to coat microtiter plates. The plates were subsequently incubated with dilutions of fifteen HCV antibody-positive sera in order to evaluate the relative merits of using mixtures as compared to individual peptides for antibody detection. The mixtures used and the results obtained are shown in FIG. 2.

In general, the mixtures functioned better than individual peptides. This was particularly evident for mixture 12 (peptides I, III, V, IX, and XVIII) which was recognized by all twelve of the sera tested. These results underscore the advantages of using mixtures of peptides in diagnostic tests for the detection of antibodies to HCV.

D. Use of a mixture of peptides in an ELISA assay for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies.

A mixture of peptides II, III, V, IX, and XVIII was prepared and used to coat microtiter plates according to the same procedure used to test the individual peptides. A total of forty-nine sera were tested from patients with clinically diagnosed but undifferentiated chronic non A non B hepatitis as well as forty-nine sera from healthy blood donors. Detection of antibody binding was accomplished using goat anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The resulting optical density values are given in Table 5. These results indicate that the mixture of peptides is not recognized by antibodies in sera from healthy donors (0/49 reactives) but is recognized by a large proportion (41/49, or 84%) of the sera from patients with chronic NANBH. These results demonstrate that the peptides described can be used effectively as mixtures for the diagnosis of HCV infection.

E. Detection of anti-HCV antibodies in sera from patients with acute NANB infection using individual peptides bound to nylon membranes and a mixture of peptides in an ELISA assay, and comparison with a commercially available kit.

Peptides were applied to nylon membranes or mixed and used to coat microtiter plates as previously described. The peptide mixture consisted of peptides II, III, V, IX, and XVIII. Sera obtained from twenty-nine patients with acute non-A, non-B hepatitis were then tested for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus. These same- sera were also evaluated using a commercially available kit (Ortho, Emeryville, Calif., USA).

The results of this comparative study are given in Table 6. In order to be able to compare the peptide-based ELISA with the commercially available kit, the results for both tests are also expressed as signal to noise ratios (S/N) which were calculated by dividing the measured optical density obtained for each sample by the cut-off value. A signal-to-noise ratio greater or equal to 1.0 is taken to represent a positive reaction. For the commercially available kit, the cut-off value was calculated according to the manufacturer's instructions. The cut-off value for the peptide-based ELISA was calculated as the average optical density of five negative samples plus 0.200.

The scale used to evaluate antibody recognition of nylon-bound peptides was the same as that given in Table 1. Of the twenty-nine samples tested, twenty-five (86%) were positive in the peptide-based ELISA and recognized one or more nylon-bound peptides. In contrast, only fourteen of the twenty-nine sera scored positive in the commercially available ELISA These results serve to illustrate the advantages of using peptide mixtures for the detection of anti-HIV antibodies as well as the need to include in the mixtures peptides which contain amino acid sequences derived from different regions of the HCV polyprotein.

TABLE 1______________________________________Recognition of peptides bound to nylon membranes bysera from persons infected by HCV.______________________________________PEPTIDESerum nr. I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX______________________________________1 3 1 13 1 0.5 2 1 0.5 2 0.546 2 1 0.57 0.5 1 2 1 0.5 3 28 0.5 1 3 1 1 1 110 1 0.5 3 113 0.5 0.5 2 0.515 0.5 2 116 2 1 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 2 0.518 1 1 3 0.5 2 0.523 0.5 1 1 0.524 1 0.5 2 1 0.5 0.5 0.5 225 1 0.5 2 0.526 127 0.5 0.5 1 3 229 0.5 3 2 1 1 0.530 0.5 0.5 1 1 0.531 1 0.532 1 233 0.534 1 1 1 3 135 1 1 2 1 1 1 0.536 1 2 1 137 1 144 1 2 1 0.546 0.5 2 0.5 0.5 0.5 247 0.5 0.5 0.5 148 1 2 2 0.5 249 1 1 0.5 0.5 0.550 1 2 1 2 0.551 2 0.5 0.5 0.552 2 0.5 0.554 2 0.5 0.5 1 0.556 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 2______________________________________X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX______________________________________ 0.5 2 2 1 1 0.5 1 2 2 11 0.5 1 22 1 1 2 0.5 1 12 1 1 1 1 0.51 0.5 2 2 2 21 1 0.5 0.50.5 1 0.51 2 2 1 2 1 0.51 0.5 0.5 0.5 10.5 2 1 1 2 0.5 1 2 1 0.52 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 10.5 0.5 0.51 0.5 1 11 0.5 0.5 1 1 0.5 2 0.5 1 1 0.5 1 1 1 0.50.5 0.5 0.5 11 1 1 1 1 0.5 0.5 1 1 0.50.51 1 1 1 1 1 0.5 1 2 1______________________________________ Blank: no reaction; 0.5: weakly positive; 1: clearly positive; 2: strong reaction; 3: intense reaction; ND: not determined TABLE 2______________________________________Summary of antibody binding to nylon bound HCV peptidesby sera from infected patients.Peptide No. reactive sera % reactive sera______________________________________I 13/35 37II 22/35 63III 27/35 77IV 24/35 69V 14/35 40VI 11/35 31VII 11/35 31VIII 19/36 53IX 9/36 25X 17/36 47XI 15/36 42XII 1/36 3XIII 13/36 36XIV 7/36 19XV 9/36 25XVI 20/36 56XVII 14/36 39XVIII 14/36 39XIX 8/36 22______________________________________ TABLE 3______________________________________Comparison of Individual Peptides in an ELISA Assayfor the Detection of Antibodies to HCV.______________________________________sample peptideident I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX______________________________________1 0.786 1.119 1.284 0.265 0.042 0.04 0.05 0.571 0.6592 0.044 0.039 0.11 0.041 0.037 0.038 0.039 0.479 0.783 0.815 0.944 0.825 0.399 0.654 0.487 0.32 0.705 0.9657 1.122 1.23 0.588 0.682 0.659 0.182 0.107 0.907 1.428 1.155 1.159 1.2 0.508 1.272 0.433 0.623 0.61 0.86310 1.089 1.236 1.083 0.044 0.508 0.042 0.073 1.49 1.52911 0.048 0.051 0.476 0.052 0.119 0.039 0.1 0.634 0.71115 0.224 0.602 0.813 0.093 0.068 0.077 0.147 0.807 1.22523 0.62 0.8 0.924 0.568 0.759 0.442 0.683 0.089 0.12124 1.042 1.132 1.026 0.518 0.916 0.302 0.253 1.013 1.36449 0.624 0.73 0.884 0.171 0.372 0.055 0.04 0.084 0.06413 0.76 0.857 0.815 0.087 0.422 0.098 0.045 0.473 0.48931 0.84 1.114 0.445 0.672 0.046 0.041 0.042 0.184 0.1547 1.303 1.53 1.236 0.751 0.83 0.629 0.073 0.545 0.73956 1.169 1.301 1.364 1.269 1.374 0.85 1.066 1.45 1.523bd A28 0.054 0.043 0.139 0.045 0.135 0.042 0.041 0.086 0.115bd 0.041 0.042 0.134 0.044 0.038 0.04 0.041 0.061 0.07A169bd 0.04 0.044 0.117 0.04 0.036 0.04 0.04 0.081 0.05A170bd 0.041 0.046 0.148 0.043 0.037 0.045 0.045 0.077 0.065A171bd 0.047 0.046 0.124 0.044 0.038 0.042 0.041 0.056 0.066A166bd 0.041 0.046 0.123 0.043 0.035 0.051 0.042 0.051 0.091A165AVG 0.044 0.045 0.131 0.043 0.053 0.043 0.042 0.069 0.076STD 0.005 0.002 0.011 0.002 0.037 0.004 0.002 0.013 0.021cut off 0.109 0.101 0.214 0.099 0.214 0.105 0.098 0.158 0.189______________________________________X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX______________________________________0.048 0.04 0.043 0.068 0.044 0.041 1.063 0.956 1.383 1.3460.169 0.563 0.039 0.042 0.515 0.039 0.64 0.319 0.154 0.490.468 0.668 0.041 0.093 0.341 0.043 0.292 0.038 0.046 0.0380.663 0.646 0.041 0.235 0.068 0.575 0.042 0.041 0.872 1.2710.752 1.175 0.046 0.42 0.102 0.068 0.552 0.671 0.417 0.0580.689 0.834 0.041 0.044 0.314 0.793 0.886 0.037 1.335 1.3560.199 0.967 0.125 0.454 0.088 0.111 0.274 0.093 0.838 0.0650.315 0.688 0.046 0.154 0.202 0.065 0.372 0.097 0.155 0.0770.422 0.896 0.041 0.049 0.101 0.068 0.311 0.038 0.052 0.050.236 0.397 0.054 0.123 0.076 0.051 0.418 0.053 0.1 0.0850.209 0.731 0.044 0.113 0.039 0.044 0.299 0.038 0.192 0.0410.529 0.735 0.043 0.044 0.186 0.043 0.086 0.037 0.066 0.040.255 0.69 0.041 0.04 0.061 0.136 0.292 0.038 0.224 0.5010.044 0.041 0.041 0.041 0.498 0.04 0.268 0.042 1.288 1.2060.079 1.069 0.058 0.568 0.038 0.039 0.218 0.036 0.087 0.0390.044 0.042 0.044 0.052 0.043 0.043 0.307 0.042 0.045 0.0610.043 0.042 0.041 0.04 0.041 0.041 0.255 0.038 0.056 0.0420.04 0.039 0.04 0.038 0.038 0.144 0.292 0.036 0.058 0.0390.043 0.041 0.043 0.039 0.04 0.045 0.286 0.037 0.05 0.040.041 0.041 0.042 0.04 0.041 0.041 0.207 0.039 0.046 0.0410.041 0.04 0.042 0.039 0.043 0.039 0.253 0.034 0.06 0.0980.042 0.041 0.042 0.041 0.041 0.059 0.267 0.038 0.053 0.0540.001 0.001 0.001 0.005 0.002 0.038 0.033 0.002 0.006 0.0210.095 0.094 0.095 0.106 0.097 0.223 0.416 0.084 0.121 0.167______________________________________ TABLE 4______________________________________Summary of antibody-binding to individual peptides in anELISA assay.Peptide No. reactive sera % reactive sera______________________________________I 13 87II 13 87III 14 93IV 10 67V 10 67VI 7 47VII 8 53VIII 13 87IX 12 80X 13 87XI 13 87XII 1 7XIII 7 47XIV 8 53XV 2 13XVI 5 33XVII 4 27XVIII 10 67XIX 6 40______________________________________ TABLE 5______________________________________Use of a peptide mixture for the detection of antibodies toHCV in sera from chronic NANBH patients and comparisonto sera from healthy blood donors.Chronic NANB Sera Control SeraSerum nr. Optical Density Serum nr. Optical Density______________________________________101 0.041 1 0.049102 1.387 2 0.047103 1.578 3 0.049104 1.804 4 0.046105 1.393 5 0.049107 1.604 6 0.045108 1.148 7 0.043109 1.714 8 0.053110 1.692 9 0.049112 0.919 10 0.047113 1.454 11 0.060114 0.936 12 0.044115 0.041 13 0.049116 1.636 14 0.051118 1.242 15 0.056119 1.568 16 0.050120 1.290 17 0.049121 1.541 18 0.055122 1.422 19 0.054123 1.493 20 0.058124 1.666 21 0.050125 1.644 22 0.044126 1.409 23 0.043127 1.625 24 0.045128 1.061 25 0.046129 1.553 26 0.049130 1.709 27 0.050131 0.041 28 0.047132 0.044 29 0.050133 1.648 30 0.053134 0.043 31 0.051135 1.268 32 0.053136 1.480 33 0.055138 0.628 34 0.064139 0.042 35 0.063140 0.040 36 0.057141 0.039 38 0.048142 1.659 39 0.045143 1.457 40 0.046144 0.722 41 0.046145 1.256 42 0.051146 0.373 43 0.057147 1.732 44 0.050148 1.089 45 0.050149 1.606 46 0.045150 1.725 47 0.041151 1.449 48 0.064154 1.639 49 0.040155 1.775 50 0.036______________________________________ TABLE 6______________________________________Comparison of anti-HCV antibody detection by nylon-bound peptides,a peptide-based ELISA, and a commercially available kit.______________________________________Se-rum Nylon-bound peptidesnr. I III IV V VI VIII XI XIV XV XVI XVIII______________________________________191 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0192 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0193 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0194 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0195 1 2 2 3 0 0 0.5 0.5 1 3 1196 1 2 1 2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 2 0197 1 2 1 2 0 0.5 0.5 0.5 1 2 0198 1 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0211 0.5 1 0.5 0.5 0 2 2 0 2 0 1213 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0214 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0215 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0216 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0217 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0219 0.5 1 1 2 1 0.5 1 0 0.5 0.5 1220 0.5 1 1 2 1 0.5 1 0 0.5 0.5 1221 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0222 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 0.5 0.5 0 0223 1 1 1 1 0 0 3 0.5 0.5 0 0224 1 1 2 1 0 0.5 3 0.5 0.5 0 0225 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 2226 0.5 0 0 0 0 2 3 2 0.5 0.5 3227 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0.5 0.5 0.5 2228 0.5 0 0.5 0.5 0 2 2 2 0 0 2234 0.5 0.5 0 0.5 0 0 3 1 3 1 3235 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0236 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0237 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0238 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0______________________________________ Optical density Optical densitySerum nr. Peptide ELISA S/N Commercial ELISA S/N______________________________________191 0.045 0.18 0.295 0.47192 0.042 0.17 0.289 0.46193 0.039 0.16 0.197 0.32194 0.044 0.18 0.183 0.29195 1.692 6.77 3.000* 4.82*196 1.569 6.28 0.386 0.62197 1.523 6.09 0.447 0.72198 1.578 6.31 0.354 0.57211 1.606 6.42 3.000* 4.82*213 0.369 1.48 0.127 0.20214 0.444 1.78 0.101 0.16215 0.637 2.55 0.101 0.16216 0.812 3.25 0.092 0.15217 1.320 5.28 0.875 1.40219 1.547 6.19 3.000* 4.82*220 1.536 6.14 3.000* 4.82*221 1.428 5.71 0.327 0.52222 1.362 5.45 3.000* 4.82*223 1.316 5.26 3.000* 4.82*224 1.304 5.22 3.000* 4.82*225 1.178 4.71 2.398 3.25226 1.256 5.14 3.000* 4.82*227 1.335 5.34 3.000* 4.82*228 1.400 5.60 3.000* 4.82*234 1.481 5.92 3.000* 4.82*235 0.351 1.40 0.257 0.41236 0.475 1.90 0.245 0.39237 1.134 4.54 0.351 0.56238 1.096 4.38 1.074 1.72 Cut-off: 0.250 Cut-off: 0.623______________________________________ 0: no reaction; 0.5: weakly positive; 1: clearly positive; 2: strong reaction; 3: intense reaction; *O.D. exceeded 3,000 and was out of range. The values given are therefore minimum values. __________________________________________________________________________# SEQUENCE LISTING- (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:- (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 23- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:- Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln - # Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn ThrAsn# 15- Arg Arg Pro Gln 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:- Pro Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn - # Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln AspVal# 15- Lys Phe Pro Gly 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 11 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:- Gln Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn Thr - # Asn Arg Arg# 10- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:- Arg Asn Thr Asn Arg Arg Pro Gln - # Asp Val Lys Phe Pro Gly GlyGly# 15- Gln Ile Val Gly 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:- Leu Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Arg Leu - # Gly Val Arg Ala Thr Arg LysThr# 15- Ser Glu Arg Ser 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:- Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser - # Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg GlnPro# 15- Ile Pro Lys Val 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:- Arg Arg Gln Pro Ile Pro Lys Val - # Arg Arg Pro Glu Gly Arg ThrTrp# 15- Ala Gln Pro Gly 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:- Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln Pro Gly - # Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr GlyAsn# 15- Glu Gly Cys Gly 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:- Leu Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile Ile - # Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu TyrArg# 15- Glu Phe Asp Glu 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:- Ile Ile Pro Asp Arg Glu Val Leu - # Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Glu MetGlu# 15- Glu Cys Ser Gln 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:- Asp Glu Met Glu Glu Cys Ser Gln - # His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu GlnGly# 15- Met Met Leu Ala 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:- Ser Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu - # Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala GluGln# 15- Phe Lys Gln Lys 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:- Ile Glu Gln Gly Met Met Leu Ala - # Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys AlaLeu# 15- Gly Leu Leu Gln 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:- Leu Ala Glu Gln Phe Lys Gln Lys - # Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln ThrAla# 15- Ser Arg Gln Ala 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:- Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu Gln - # Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln Ala GluVal# 15- Ile Ala Pro Ala 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:- Glu Asp Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val - # Pro Ala Glu Ile Leu Arg LysSer# 15- Arg Arg Phe Ala 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:- Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg Phe Ala - # Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Trp AlaArg# 15- Pro Asp Tyr Asn 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:- Val Trp Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn - # Pro Pro Leu Val Glu Thr TrpLys# 15- Lys Pro Asp Tyr 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:- Glu Thr Trp Lys Lys Pro Asp Tyr - # Glu Pro Pro Val Val His GlyCys# 15- Pro Leu Pro Pro 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 20 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:- Val His Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro - # Pro Lys Ser Pro Pro Val ProPro# 15- Pro Arg Lys Lys 20- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 16 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:- Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val Pro Ala - # Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser ArgArg# 15- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 11 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:- Arg Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro Val - # Trp Ala Arg# 10- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 23:- (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#acids (A) LENGTH: 2894 amino (B) TYPE: amino acid (C) STRANDEDNESS: single (D) TOPOLOGY: linear- (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide- (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO- (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO#23: (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:- Met Ser Thr Ile Pro Lys Pro Gln - # Arg Lys Thr Lys Arg Asn ThrAsn# 15- Arg Arg Pro Gln Asp Val Lys Phe - # Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Ile ValGly# 30- Gly Val Tyr Leu Leu Pro Arg Arg - # Gly Pro Arg Leu Gly Val ArgAla# 45- Thr Arg Lys Thr Ser Glu Arg Ser - # Gln Pro Arg Gly Arg Arg GlnPro# 60- Ile Pro Lys Val Arg Arg Pro Glu - # Gly Arg Thr Trp Ala Gln ProGly# 80- Tyr Pro Trp Pro Leu Tyr Gly Asn - # Glu Gly Cys Gly Trp Ala GlyTrp# 95- Leu Leu Ser Pro Arg Gly Ser Arg - # Pro Ser Trp Gly Pro Thr AspPro# 110- Arg Arg Arg Ser Arg Asn Leu Gly - # Lys Val Ile Asp Thr Leu ThrCys# 125- Gly Phe Ala Asp Leu Met Gly Tyr - # Ile Pro Leu Val Gly Ala ProLeu# 140- Gly Gly Ala Ala Arg Ala Leu Ala - # His Gly Val Arg Val Leu GluAsp# 160- Gly Val Asn Tyr Ala Thr Gly Asn - # Leu Pro Gly Cys Ser Phe SerIle# 175- Phe Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu Ser Cys - # Leu Thr Val Pro Ala Ser AlaTyr# 190- Gln Val Arg Asn Ser Thr Gly Leu - # Tyr His Val Thr Asn Asp CysPro# 205- Asn Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Glu Ala - # His Asp Ala Ile Leu His ThrPro# 220- Gly Cys Val Pro Cys Val Arg Glu - # Gly Asn Val Ser Arg Cys TrpVal# 240- Ala Met Thr Pro Thr Val Ala Thr - # Arg Asp Gly Lys Leu Pro AlaThr# 255- Gln Leu Arg Arg His Ile Asp Leu - # Leu Val Gly Ser Ala Thr LeuCys# 270- Ser Ala Leu Tyr Val Gly Asp Leu - # Cys Gly Ser Val Phe Leu IleGly# 285- Gln Leu Phe Thr Phe Ser Pro Arg - # Arg His Trp Thr Thr Gln GlyCys# 300- Asn Cys Ser Ile Tyr Pro Gly His - # Ile Thr Gly His Arg Met AlaTrp# 320- Asp Met Met Met Asn Trp Ser Pro - # Thr Ala Ala Leu Val Met AlaGln# 335- Leu Leu Arg Ile Pro Gln Ala Ile - # Leu Asp Met Ile Ala Gly AlaHis# 350- Trp Gly Val Leu Ala Gly Ile Ala - # Tyr Phe Ser Met Val Gly AsnTrp# 365- Ala Lys Val Leu Val Val Leu Leu - # Leu Phe Ala Gly Val Asp AlaGlu# 380- Thr Ile Val Ser Gly Gly Gln Ala - # Ala Arg Ala Met Ser Gly LeuVal# 400- Ser Leu Phe Thr Pro Gly Ala Lys - # Gln Asn Ile Gln Leu Ile AsnThr# 415- Asn Gly Ser Trp His Ile Asn Ser - # Thr Ala Leu Asn Cys Asn GluSer# 430- Leu Asn Thr Gly Trp Leu Ala Gly - # Leu Ile Tyr Gln His Lys PheAsn# 445- Ser Ser Gly Cys Pro Glu Arg Leu - # Ala Ser Cys Arg Pro Leu ThrAsp# 460- Phe Asp Gln Gly Trp Gly Pro Ile - # Ser Tyr Ala Asn Gly Ser GlyPro# 480- Asp Gln Arg Pro Tyr Cys Trp His - # Tyr Pro Pro Lys Pro Cys GlyIle# 495- Val Pro Ala Lys Ser Val Cys Gly - # Pro Val Tyr Cys Phe Thr ProSer# 510- Pro Val Val Val Gly Thr Thr Asp - # Arg Ser Gly Ala Pro Thr TyrSer# 525- Trp Gly Glu Asn Asp Thr Asp Val - # Phe Val Leu Asn Asn Thr ArgPro# 540- Pro Leu Gly Asn Trp Phe Gly Cys - # Thr Trp Met Asn Ser Thr GlyPhe# 560- Thr Lys Val Cys Gly Ala Pro Pro - # Cys Val Ile Gly Gly Ala GlyAsn# 575- Asn Thr Leu His Cys Pro Thr Asp - # Cys Phe Arg Lys His Pro AspAla# 590- Thr Tyr Ser Arg Cys Gly Ser Gly - # Pro Trp Ile Thr Pro Arg CysLeu# 605- Val Asp Tyr Pro Tyr Arg Leu Trp - # His Tyr Pro Cys Thr Ile AsnTyr# 620- Thr Ile Phe Lys Ile Arg Met Tyr - # Val Gly Gly Val Glu His ArgLeu# 640- Glu Ala Ala Cys Asn Trp Thr Arg - # Gly Glu Arg Cys Asp Leu GluAsp# 655- Arg Asp Arg Ser Glu Leu Ser Pro - # Leu Leu Leu Thr Thr Thr GlnTrp# 670- Gln Val Leu Pro Cys Ser Phe Thr - # Thr Leu Pro Ala Leu Ser ThrGly# 685- Leu Ile His Leu His Gln Asn Ile - # Val Asp Val Gln Tyr Leu TyrGly# 700- Val Gly Ser Ser Ile Ala Ser Trp - # Ala Ile Lys Trp Glu Tyr ValVal# 720- Leu Leu Phe Leu Leu Leu Ala Asp - # Ala Arg Val Cys Ser Cys LeuTrp# 735- Met Met Leu Leu Ile Ser Gln Ala - # Glu Ala Ala Leu Glu Asn LeuVal# 750- Ile Leu Asn Ala Ala Ser Leu Ala - # Gly Thr His Gly Leu Val SerPhe# 765- Leu Val Phe Phe Cys Phe Ala Trp - # Tyr Leu Lys Gly Lys Trp ValPro# 780- Gly Ala Val Tyr Thr Phe Tyr Gly - # Met Trp Pro Leu Leu Leu LeuLeu# 800- Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Arg Ala Tyr - # Ala Leu Asp Thr Glu Val AlaAla# 815- Ser Cys Gly Gly Val Val Leu Val - # Gly Leu Met Ala Leu Thr LeuSer# 830- Pro Tyr Tyr Lys Arg Tyr Ile Ser - # Trp Cys Leu Trp Trp Leu GlnTyr# 845- Phe Leu Thr Arg Val Glu Ala Gln - # Leu His Val Trp Ile Pro ProLeu# 860- Asn Val Arg Gly Gly Arg Asp Ala - # Val Ile Leu Leu Met Cys AlaVal# 880- His Pro Thr Leu Val Phe Asp Ile - # Thr Lys Leu Leu Leu Ala ValPhe# 895- Gly Pro Leu Trp Ile Leu Asp Ala - # Ser Leu Leu Lys Val Pro TyrPhe# 910- Val Arg Val Gln Gly Leu Leu Arg - # Phe Cys Ala Leu Ala Arg LysMet# 925- Ile Gly Gly His Tyr Val Gln Met - # Val Ile Ile Lys Leu Gly AlaLeu# 940- Thr Gly Thr Tyr Val Tyr Asn His - # Leu Thr Pro Leu Arg Asp TrpAla# 960- His Asn Gly Leu Arg Asp Leu Ala - # Val Ala Val Glu Pro Val ValPhe# 975- Ser Gln Met Glu Thr Lys Leu Ile - # Thr Trp Gly Ala Asp Thr AlaAla# 990- Cys Gly Asp Ile Ile Asn Gly Leu - # Pro Val Ser Ala Arg Arg GlyArg# 10050- Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Pro Ala Asp - # Gly Met Val Ser Lys Gly TrpArg# 10205- Leu Leu Ala Pro Ile Thr Ala Tyr - # Ala Gln Gln Thr Arg Gly LeuLeu# 10405- Gly Cys Ile Ile Thr Ser Leu Thr - # Gly Arg Asp Lys Asn Gln ValGlu# 10550- Gly Glu Val Gln Ile Val Ser Thr - # Ala Ala Gln Thr Phe Leu AlaThr# 10700 - # 1065- Cys Ile Asn Gly Val Cys Trp Thr - # Val Tyr His Gly Ala Gly ThrArg# 10850- Thr Ile Ala Ser Pro Lys Gly Pro - # Val Ile Gln Met Tyr Thr AsnVal# 11005- Asp Gln Asp Leu Val Gly Trp Pro - # Ala Pro Gln Gly Ser Arg SerLeu# 11205- Thr Pro Cys Thr Cys Gly Ser Ser - # Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Thr ArgHis# 11350- Ala Asp Val Ile Pro Val Arg Arg - # Arg Gly Asp Ser Arg Gly SerLeu# 11500 - # 1145- Leu Ser Pro Arg Pro Ile Ser Tyr - # Leu Lys Gly Ser Ser Gly GlyPro# 11650- Leu Leu Cys Pro Ala Gly His Ala - # Val Gly Ile Phe Arg Ala AlaVal# 11805- Cys Thr Arg Gly Val Ala Lys Ala - # Val Asp Phe Ile Pro Val GluAsn# 12005- Leu Glu Thr Thr Met Arg Ser Pro - # Val Phe Trp Asp Asn Ser SerPro# 12150- Pro Val Val Pro Gln Ser Phe Gln - # Val Ala His Leu His Ala ProThr# 12300 - # 1225- Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Thr Lys Val - # Pro Ala Ala Tyr Ala Ala GlnGly# 12450- Tyr Lys Val Leu Val Leu Asn Pro - # Ser Val Ala Ala Thr Leu GlyPhe# 12605- Gly Ala Tyr Met Ser Lys Ala His - # Gly Ile Asp Pro Asn Ile ArgThr# 12805- Gly Val Arg Thr Ile Thr Thr Gly - # Ser Pro Ile Thr Tyr Ser ThrTyr# 12950- Gly Lys Phe Leu Ala Asp Gly Gly - # Cys Ser Gly Gly Ala Tyr AspIle# 13100 - # 1305- Ile Ile Cys Asp Glu Cys His Ser - # Thr Asp Ala Thr Ser Ile LeuGly# 13250- Ile Gly Thr Val Leu Asp Gln Ala - # Glu Thr Ala Gly Ala Arg LeuVal# 13405- Val Leu Ala Thr Ala Thr Pro Pro - # Gly Ser Val Thr Val Pro HisPro# 13605- Asn Ile Glu Glu Val Ala Leu Ser - # Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Pro PheTyr# 13750- Gly Lys Ala Ile Pro Leu Glu Val - # Ile Lys Gly Gly Arg His LeuIle# 13900 - # 1385- Phe Cys His Ser Lys Lys Lys Cys - # Asp Glu Leu Ala Ala Lys LeuVal# 14050- Ala Leu Gly Ile Asn Ala Val Ala - # Tyr Tyr Arg Gly Leu Asp ValSer# 14205- Val Ile Pro Thr Ser Gly Asp Val - # Val Val Val Ala Thr Asp AlaLeu# 14405- Met Thr Gly Tyr Thr Gly Asp Phe - # Asp Ser Val Ile Asp Cys AsnThr# 14550- Cys Val Thr Gln Thr Val Asp Phe - # Ser Leu Asp Pro Thr Phe ThrIle# 14700 - # 1465- Glu Thr Ile Thr Leu Pro Gln Asp - # Ala Val Ser Arg Thr Gln ArgArg# 14850- Gly Arg Thr Gly Arg Gly Lys Pro - # Gly Ile Tyr Arg Phe Val AlaPro# 15005- Gly Glu Arg Pro Ser Gly Met Phe - # Asp Ser Ser Val Leu Cys GluCys# 15205- Tyr Asp Ala Gly Cys Ala Trp Tyr - # Glu Leu Thr Pro Ala Glu ThrThr# 15350- Val Arg Leu Arg Ala Tyr Met Asn - # Thr Pro Gly Leu Pro Val CysGln# 15500 - # 1545- Asp His Leu Glu Phe Trp Glu Gly - # Val Phe Thr Gly Leu Thr HisIle# 15650- Asp Ala His Phe Leu Ser Gln Thr - # Lys Gly Ser Gly Glu Asn LeuPro# 15805- Tyr Leu Val Ala Tyr Gln Ala Thr - # Val Cys Ala Arg Ala Gln AlaPro# 16005- Pro Pro Ser Trp Asp Gln Met Trp - # Lys Cys Leu Ile Arg Leu LysPro# 16150- Thr Leu His Gly Pro Thr Pro Leu - # Leu Tyr Arg Leu Gly Ala ValGln# 16300 - # 1625- Asn Glu Ile Thr Leu Thr His Pro - # Val Thr Lys Tyr Ile Met ThrCys# 16450- Met Ser Ala Asp Leu Glu Val Val - # Thr Ser Thr Trp Val Leu ValGly# 16605- Gly Val Leu Ala Ala Leu Ala Ala - # Tyr Cys Leu Ser Thr Gly CysVal# 16805- Val Ile Val Gly Arg Val Val Leu - # Ser Gly Lys Pro Ala Ile IlePro# 16950- Asp Arg Glu Val Leu Tyr Arg Glu - # Phe Asp Glu Met Glu Glu CysSer# 17100 - # 1705- Gln His Leu Pro Tyr Ile Glu Gln - # Gly Met Met Leu Ala Glu GlnPhe# 17250- Lys Gln Lys Ala Leu Gly Leu Leu - # Gln Thr Ala Ser Arg Gln AlaGlu# 17405- Val Ile Ala Pro Ala Val Gln Thr - # Asn Trp Gln Lys Leu Glu ThrPhe# 17605- Trp Ala Lys His Met Trp Asn Phe - # Ile Ser Gly Ile Gln Tyr LeuAla# 17750- Gly Leu Ser Thr Leu Pro Gly Asn - # Pro Ala Ile Ala Ser Leu MetAla# 17900 - # 1785- Phe Thr Ala Ala Val Thr Ser Pro - # Leu Thr Thr Ser Gln Thr LeuLeu# 18050- Phe Asn Ile Leu Gly Gly Trp Val - # Ala Ala Gln Leu Ala Ala ProGly# 18205- Ala Ala Thr Ala Phe Val Gly Ala - # Gly Leu Ala Gly Ala Ala IleGly# 18405- Ser Val Gly Leu Gly Lys Val Leu - # Ile Asp Ile Leu Ala Gly TyrGly# 18550- Ala Gly Val Ala Gly Ala Leu Val - # Ala Phe Lys Ile Met Ser GlyGlu# 18700 - # 1865- Val Pro Ser Thr Glu Asp Leu Val - # Asn Leu Leu Pro Ala Ile LeuSer# 18850- Pro Gly Ala Leu Val Val Gly Val - # Val Cys Ala Ala Ile Leu ArgArg# 19005- His Val Gly Pro Gly Glu Gly Ala - # Val Gln Trp Met Asn Arg LeuIle# 19205- Ala Phe Ala Ser Arg Gly Asn His - # Val Ser Pro Thr His Tyr ValPro# 19350- Glu Ser Asp Ala Ala Ala Arg Val - # Thr Ala Ile Leu Ser Ser LeuThr# 19500 - # 1945- Val Thr Gln Leu Leu Arg Arg Leu - # His Gln Trp Ile Ser Ser GluCys# 19650- Thr Thr Pro Cys Ser Gly Ser Trp - # Leu Arg Asp Ile Trp Asp TrpIle# 19805- Cys Glu Val Leu Ser Asp Phe Lys - # Thr Trp Leu Lys Ala Lys LeuMet# 20005- Pro Gln Leu Pro Gly Ile Pro Phe - # Val Ser Cys Gln Arg Gly TyrLys# 20150- Gly Val Trp Arg Val Asp Gly Ile - # Met His Thr Arg Cys His CysGly# 20300 - # 2025- Ala Glu Ile Thr Gly His Val Lys - # Asn Gly Thr Met Arg Ile ValGly# 20450- Pro Arg Thr Cys Arg Asn Met Trp - # Ser Gly Thr Phe Pro Ile AsnAla# 20605- Tyr Thr Thr Gly Pro Cys Thr Arg - # Leu Pro Ala Pro Asn Tyr ThrPhe# 20805- Ala Leu Trp Arg Val Ser Ala Glu - # Glu Tyr Val Glu Ile Arg GlnVal# 20950- Gly Asp Phe His Tyr Val Thr Gly - # Met Thr Thr Asp Asn Leu LysCys# 21100 - # 2105- Pro Cys Gln Val Pro Ser Pro Glu - # Phe Phe Thr Glu Leu Asp GlyVal# 21250- Arg Leu His Arg Phe Ala Pro Pro - # Cys Lys Pro Leu Leu Arg GluGlu# 21405- Val Ser Phe Arg Val Gly Leu His - # Glu Tyr Pro Val Gly Ser GlnLeu# 21605- Pro Cys Glu Pro Glu Pro Asp Val - # Ala Val Leu Thr Ser Met LeuThr# 21750- Asp Pro Ser His Ile Thr Ala Glu - # Ala Ala Gly Arg Arg Leu AlaArg# 21900 - # 2185- Gly Ser Pro Pro Ser Val Ala Ser - # Ser Ser Ala Ser Gln Leu SerAla# 22050- Pro Ser Leu Lys Ala Thr Cys Thr - # Ala Asn His Asp Ser Pro AspAla# 22205- Glu Leu Ile Glu Ala Asn Leu Leu - # Trp Arg Gln Glu Met Gly GlyAsn# 22405- Ile Thr Arg Val Glu Ser Glu Asn - # Lys Val Val Ile Leu Asp SerPhe# 22550- Asp Pro Leu Val Ala Glu Glu Asp - # Glu Arg Glu Ile Ser Val ProAla# 22700 - # 2265- Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ser Arg Arg - # Phe Ala Gln Ala Leu Pro ValTrp# 22850- Ala Arg Pro Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro - # Leu Val Glu Thr Trp Lys LysPro# 23005- Asp Tyr Glu Pro Pro Val Val His - # Gly Cys Pro Leu Pro Pro ProLys# 23205- Ser Pro Pro Val Pro Pro Pro Arg - # Lys Lys Arg Thr Val Val LeuThr# 23350- Glu Ser Thr Leu Ser Thr Ala Leu - # Ala Glu Leu Ala Thr Arg SerPhe# 23500 - # 2345- Gly Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Gly Ile - # Thr Gly Asp Asn Thr Thr ThrSer# 23650- Ser Glu Pro Ala Pro Ser Gly Cys - # Pro Pro Asp Ser Asp Ala GluSer# 23805- Tyr Ser Ser Met Pro Pro Leu Glu - # Gly Glu Pro Gly Asp Pro AspLeu# 24005- Ser Asp Gly Ser Trp Ser Thr Val - # Ser Ser Glu Ala Asn Ala GluAsp# 24150- Val Val Cys Cys Ser Met Ser Tyr - # Ser Trp Thr Gly Ala Cys ValThr# 24300 - # 2425- Pro Cys Ala Ala Glu Glu Gln Lys - # Leu Pro Ile Asn Ala Leu SerAsn# 24450- Ser Leu Leu Arg His His Asn Leu - # Val Tyr Ser Thr Thr Ser ArgSer# 24605- Ala Cys Gln Arg Gln Lys Lys Val - # Thr Phe Asp Arg Leu Gln ValLeu# 24805- Asp Ser His Tyr Gln Asp Val Leu - # Lys Glu Val Lys Ala Ala AlaSer# 24950- Lys Val Lys Ala Asn Leu Leu Ser - # Val Glu Glu Ala Cys Ser LeuThr# 25100 - # 2505- Pro Pro His Ser Ala Lys Ser Lys - # Phe Gly Tyr Gly Ala Lys AspVal# 25250- Arg Cys His Ala Arg Lys Ala Val - # Thr His Ile Asn Ser Val TrpLys# 25405- Asp Leu Leu Glu Asp Asn Val Thr - # Pro Ile Asp Thr Thr Ile MetAla# 25605- Lys Asn Glu Val Phe Cys Val Gln - # Pro Glu Lys Gly Gly Arg LysPro# 25750- Ala Arg Leu Ile Val Phe Pro Asp - # Leu Gly Val Arg Val Cys GluLys# 25900 - # 2585- Met Ala Leu Tyr Asp Val Val Thr - # Lys Leu Pro Leu Ala Val MetGly# 26050- Ser Ser Tyr Gly Phe Gln Tyr Ser - # Pro Gly Gln Arg Val Glu PheLeu# 26205- Val Gln Ala Trp Lys Ser Lys Lys - # Thr Pro Met Gly Phe Ser TyrAsp# 26405- Thr Arg Cys Phe Asp Ser Thr Val - # Thr Glu Ser Asp Ile Arg ThrGlu# 26550- Glu Ala Ile Tyr Gln Cys Cys Asp - # Leu Asp Pro Gln Ala Arg ValAla# 26700 - # 2665- Ile Lys Ser Leu Thr Glu Arg Leu - # Tyr Val Gly Gly Pro Leu ThrAsn# 26850- Ser Arg Gly Glu Asn Cys Gly Tyr - # Arg Arg Cys Arg Ala Ser GlyVal# 27005- Leu Thr Thr Ser Cys Gly Asn Thr - # Leu Thr Cys Tyr Ile Lys AlaArg# 27205- Ala Ala Cys Arg Ala Ala Gly Leu - # Gln Asp Cys Thr Met Leu ValCys# 27350- Gly Asp Asp Leu Val Val Ile Cys - # Glu Ser Ala Gly Val Gln GluAsp# 27500 - # 2745- Ala Ala Ser Leu Arg Ala Phe Thr - # Glu Ala Met Thr Arg Tyr SerAla# 27650- Pro Pro Gly Asp Pro Pro Gln Pro - # Glu Tyr Asp Leu Glu Leu IleThr# 27805- Ser Cys Ser Ser Asn Val Ser Val - # Ala His Asp Gly Ala Gly LysArg# 28005- Val Tyr Tyr Leu Thr Arg Asp Pro - # Thr Thr Pro Leu Ala Arg AlaAla# 28150- Trp Glu Thr Ala Arg His Thr Pro - # Val Asn Ser Trp Leu Gly AsnIle# 28300 - # 2825- Ile Met Phe Ala Pro Thr Leu Trp - # Ala Arg Met Ile Leu Met ThrHis# 28450- Phe Phe Ser Val Leu Ile Ala Arg - # Asp Gln Leu Glu Gln Ala LeuAsp# 28605- Cys Glu Ile Tyr Gly Ala Cys Tyr - # Ser Ile Glu Pro Leu Asp LeuPro# 28805- Pro Ile Ile Gln Arg Leu Gly Cys - # Pro Glu Arg Leu Ala Ser# 28905__________________________________________________________________________

Claims

1. An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 9.

2. An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10.

3. An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 11.

4. An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 12.

5. An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 13.

6. An isolated peptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 14.

7. The peptide according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein said peptide is coupled N-terminally, C-terminally or internally to a carrier molecule.

8. The peptide according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein said peptide contains a detectable label.

9. A method for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) present in a body fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the body fluid with the peptide according to any one of claims 1-6, and

(b) detecting an immunological complex formed between antibodies to HCV in said body fluid and said peptide, the presence of said complex being indicative of the presence of antibodies to HCV in said body fluid.

10. The method of claim 9, where said peptide is present as lines on a nylon membrane.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said nylon membrane is cut into strips perpendicular to the direction of the peptide lines, and said strip is incubated with diluted serum sample.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said peptide is present in wells of microtiter plates.

13. A kit for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a body fluid, comprising:

a peptide according to any one of claims 1-6, and a means for detecting an immunological complex formed between said peptide and said antibodies.

14. The kit of claim 13, further comprising a nylon membrane, said peptide being present as lines on said membrane, said membrane being cut into strips perpendicular to the direction of the peptide lines, such that said strip can be incubated with a diluted serum sample.

15. The kit of claim 13, further comprising a microtiter plate, said peptide being present in the wells of said microtiter plate.

16. The peptide as in any of claims 1-6, wherein said peptide has on its amino terminus an H, or one or more chemical linking groups, and has on its carboxy terminus an NH.sub.2, or one or more chemical linking groups.

17. The peptide as in any of claims 1-6, wherein said peptide is cyclic and is immunoreactive with HCV antibodies.

18. The peptide of any of claims 1-6 wherein said peptide is cyclic.

19. A method for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) present in a body fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the body fluid with the peptide according to claim 18, and

(b) detecting an immunological complex formed between antibodies to HCV in said body fluid and said peptide, the presence of said complex being indicative of the presence of antibodies to HCV in said body fluid.

20. The method of claim 19 where said peptide is present as lines on a nylon membrane.

21. A kit for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a body fluid, comprising: a peptide according to claim 18, and a means for detecting an immunological complex formed between said peptide and said antibodies.

22. A peptide composition comprising a peptide of any one of claims 1-6 and at least one additional peptide selected from the group consisting of peptides having amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:20.

23. The peptide composition of claim 22, wherein two or more of said peptides are joined together, the joined peptide being capable of providing immunological competition with at least one strain of HCV.

24. A method for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) present in a body fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the body fluid with the peptide composition according to claim 23, and

(b) detecting an immunological complex formed between antibodies to HCV in said body fluid and said peptide composition, the presence of said complex being indicative of the presence of antibodies to HCV in said body fluid.

25. The method of claim 24, where said peptides of said composition are present as lines on a nylon membrane.

26. A kit for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a body fluid, comprising:

a peptide composition according to claim 23, and a means for detecting an immunological complex formed between said peptide composition and said antibodies.

27. The peptide composition of claim 22, wherein at least one peptide is cyclic.

28. A method for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) present in a body fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the body fluid with the peptide composition according to claim 27, and

(b) detecting an immunological complex formed between antibodies to HCV in said body fluid and said peptide composition, the presence of said complex being indicative of the presence of antibodies to HCV in said body fluid.

29. The method of claim 28, where said peptides of said composition are present as lines on a nylon membrane.

30. A kit for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a body fluid, comprising:

a peptide composition according to claim 27, and a means for detecting an immunological complex formed between said peptide composition and said antibodies.

31. The peptide composition according to claim 22, wherein at least one of said peptides is coupled N-terminally, C-terminally or internally to a carrier molecule.

32. The peptide composition according to claim 22 wherein said composition contains a detectable label.

33. A method for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) present in a body fluid comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting the body fluid with the peptide composition according to claim 22, and

(b) detecting an immunological complex formed between antibodies to HCV in said body fluid and said peptide composition, the presence of said complex being indicative of the presence of antibodies to HCV in said body fluid.

34. The method of claim 33, where said peptide is present as lines on a nylon membrane.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said nylon membrane is cut into strips perpendicular to the direction of the peptide composition lines, and each strip is incubated with diluted serum sample.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said peptide composition is present in wells of microtiter plates.

37. The peptide composition as in claim 22, wherein at least one of said peptides has on its amino terminus an H, or one or more chemical linking groups, and has on its carboxy terminus an NH.sub.2, or one or more chemical linking groups.

38. The peptide composition as in claim 22, wherein at least one of said peptides is cyclic and is immunoreactive with HCV antibodies.

39. A kit for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in a body fluid, comprising:

a peptide composition according to claim 22, and a means for detecting an immunological complex formed between said peptide composition and said antibodies.

40. A peptide comprising two or more peptides joined together, said two or more peptides being selected from the group consisting of peptides having amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, and SEQ ID NO:15, wherein said two or more peptides joined together is capable of providing immunological competition with at least one strain of.