PEPTIDE HAVING EFFECT ON DIAGNOSIS AND DETECTION OF INFECTION WITH HEPATITIS C

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a peptide composition having high sensitivity and selectivity with respect to detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV), useful for diagnosing and preventing HCV infection by including a plural number of peptides having specific amino acid sequences. SOLUTION: This peptide composition comprises at least one straight-chain or branched peptide selected from the formula; (peptide)-Y [(peptide) is a peptide part having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of formula I to formula III, etc., specific immunoreactivity to hepatitis C virus antibody; Y is OH or NH2 of a carboxyl group of a C-terminus amino acid of (peptide)], (peptide)2 X (X is an amino acid containing two amino groups and one carboxyl group capable of forming a peptide bond or an amino acid analog), (peptide)4 X2 X, (peptide)8 X4 X2 X and (peptide)16 X8 X4 X2 X, etc., has high sensitivity and selectivity with respect to detection of HCV antibody and is capable of adapting itself to antigenic variation related to strains.