HCV E2 PROTEIN BINDING AGENTS FOR TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION

摘要

The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hepatitis C virus infection in a subject which comprises administering an effective amount of an agent to the subject, wherein the agent is capable of inhibiting the attachment of hepatitis C virus onto cells by specifically binding to the hepatitis C virus envelope E2 protein so as to treat or prevent hepatitis C virus infection. The present invention also provides a method of identifying a compound which can inhibit the attachment of hepatitis C virus onto cells and can treat or prevent hepatitis C virus infection in a subject by inhibiting the binding of hepatitis C virus envelope E2 protein to a cellular protein associated with hepatitis C virus attachment onto cells and their entry into cells, comprising (a) incubating said compound, the hepatitis C virus envelope E2 protein or its variant and said cellular protein capable of specifically binding to said hepatitis C virus E2 protein under a suitable reaction conditions, (b) determining the interactions between the hepatitis C virus envelope E2 protein or its variant and said cellular protein in the presence of said compound, and (c) comparing the interactions in step (b) with the interaction between the hepatitis C virus envelope E2 protein or its variant and said cellular protein in the absence of said compound so as to identify a compound which can inhibit the attachment of hepatitis C virus into a cell.