Inhibition of hepatitis C virus production by aptamers against the core protein.

Overexpression of Full-Length Core Protein of Hepatitis C Virus by Escherichia coli Cultivated in Stirred Tank Fermentor

The mature core protein of the Hepatitis C virus (HCVC173) carrying pelB as a signal peptide (PelB::core) was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as 18% and 23.3% of the host’s total protein, in flask and fermentor cultivation, respectively. A final specific yield of 25 ± 1 mg HCVC173/g dry cell weight and an overallproductivity of 51±1 mg HCVC173/l/h were obtained in the stirred-tank ferme...

CpG Motif as an Adjuvant in Immunization of a Recombinant Plasmid Encoding Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein

Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Infection by DNA Aptamer against NS2 Protein

NS2 protein is essential for hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. NS2 protein was expressed and purified. Aptamers against NS2 protein were raised and antiviral effects of the aptamers were examined. The molecular mechanism through which the aptamers exert their anti-HCV activity was investigated. The data showed that aptamer NS2-3 inhibited HCV RNA replication in replicon cell line and infecti...

Enhanced Immune Responses of a Hepatitis C Virus core DNA Vaccine by co-Inoculating Interleukin-12 Expressing Vector in Mice

Background: Hepatitis C (HCV) is a worldwide problem without an effective vaccine with more than 170 million chronically infected people worldwide. DNA vaccines expressing antigenic portions of the virus with adjutants have recently been developed as a novel vaccination technology. Objectives: In the present study, a DNA vaccine expressing HCV core protein was developed with IL12 as a genetic a...

Antiviral Profile of Brown and Red Seaweed Polysaccharides Against Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has infected 3% of the population worldwide and 20% of the population in Egypt. HCV infection can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma and death. The presently available treatment with interferon plus ribavirin, has limited benefits due to adverse side effects. Seaweeds have become a major source of new compounds to treat viral diseases. This work aimed to study the effect o...