HEPATITIS C VIRUS CORE PEPTIDE FOR STIMULATION OF CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES AND DIAGNOSIS OF HCV EXPOSURE

摘要

Peptides representing portions of the Hepatitis C Virus core protein that represent cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes are disclosed. The peptides also have amino acid sequences corresponding to binding motifs for human HLA molecules. The peptides are useful as vaccines for the prevention or treatment of Hepatitis C Virus infection and can also be used as reagents for diagnostic tests for Hepatitis C Virus exposure or for prognostic tests for predicting the clinical course of Hepatitis C Virus infection.