The E2 envelope glycoprotein is the primary target of human neutralizing antibody response against hepatitis C virus (HCV), and is thus a major focus of vaccine and immunotherapeutics efforts. There is emerging evidence that E2 is a highly complex, dynamic protein with residues across the protein that are modulating antibody recognition, local and global E2 stability, and viral escape. To compr...

P-glycoprotein, an ATP-driven efflux pump, regulates permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Sphingolipids, endogenous to brain tissue, influence inflammatory responses and cell survival in vitro. Our laboratory has previously shown that sphingolipid signaling by sphingosine 1-phosphate decreases basal P-glycoprotein transport activity. Here, we investigated the potential for another sph...

We used previously characterized murine monoclonal antibodies to develop a panel useful in subtyping Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viruses by an indirect fluorescent antibody assay. This panel worked well with either prototype VEE viruses or a series of more recent VEE virus isolates. The panel is particularly useful for rapidly differentiating VEE viruses with epidemic-epizootic potenti...

The E2 protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is believed to be a virion surface glycoprotein that is a candidate for inclusion in an antiviral vaccine. A truncated soluble version of E2 has recently been shown to interact with CD81, suggesting that this protein may be a component of the receptor for HCV. When expressed in eukaryotic cells, a significant proportion of E2 forms misfolded aggregates....

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins E1 and E2, being virion components, are involved in the formation of infectious particles in infected cells. The detailed structure of the infectious particle of HCV remains poorly understood. Moreover, the virion assembly and release of virions by the cell are the least understood processes. It is believed that virion properties depend on glycosyla...

Nearly all livers transplanted into hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients become infected with HCV, and 10 to 25% of reinfected livers develop cirrhosis within 5 years. Neutralizing monoclonal antibody could be an effective therapy for the prevention of infection in a transplant setting. To pursue this treatment modality, we developed human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) directed against th...

Evidence from clinical and experimental studies indicates that hepatitis C virus E2 glycoprotein (HCV/E2) represents a major target antigen involved in the containment and resolution of naturally occurring HCV infection. Antibody phage display allows the molecular cloning of cDNA sequences encoding antibody fragments specific to a wide range of diverse antigens. These antibodies may be produced...

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) harbors three envelope glycoproteins (E(rns), E1 and E2). Previous studies have demonstrated that removal of specific glycosylation sites within these proteins yielded attenuated and immunogenic CSFV mutants. Here we analyzed the effects of lack of glycosylation of baculovirus-expressed E(rns), E1, and E2 proteins on immunogenicity. Interestingly, E(rns), E1, ...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) glycoproteins E1 and E2 assemble to form a noncovalent heterodimer which, in the cell, accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Contrary to what is observed for proteins with a KDEL or a KKXX ER-targeting signal, the ER localization of the HCV glycoprotein complex is due to a static retention in this compartment rather than to its retrieval from the cis-Golgi regio...

To identify genetic determinants of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) virulence and host range, chimeras of the highly pathogenic Brescia strain and the attenuated vaccine strain CS were constructed and evaluated for viral virulence in swine. Upon initial screening, only chimeras 138.8v and 337.14v, the only chimeras containing the E2 glycoprotein of CS, were attenuated in swine despite exhibi...