INFECTIOUS HEPACIVIRUS PSEUDO-PARTICLES CONTAINING FUNCTIONAL e1, e2 ENVELOPE PROTEINS

摘要

The invention relates to the generation and the use of hepacivirus pseudo-particles containing native functional E1, E2 envelope glycoproteins assembled onto retroviral core particles. These particles are highly infectious and constitute a valid model of hepacivirus virion.

主权项

1. A method for producing infectious hepacivirus-like particles ex vivo comprising the steps of:
providing a first nucleic acid sequence comprising a packaging competent retroviral-derived genome; providing a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a cDNA encoding core proteins from said retrovirus; providing a third nucleic acid sequence comprising a cDNA encoding a polyprotein comprising successively a signal peptide from a type I membrane protein, and a hepacivirus E1 protein and/or a hepacivirus E2 protein; transfecting host cells with said nucleic acid sequences and maintaining the transfected cells in culture for sufficient time to allow expression of the cDNAs to produce structural proteins from hepacivirus and retrovirus; and allowing the structural proteins to form virus-like particles.