evaluation of a native preparation of hcv core protein (2-122) for potential applications in immunization, diagnosis and mab production

infection with hepatitis c virus (hcv) is a worldwide problem. among hcv proteins, core antigen (ag), besides its importance for diagnostic application is a prime candidate for component of a vaccine. herein, we report results of studies on production of the hydrophilic domain of core ag (2-122) in native conformation by an arabinose induction system in e.coli and the primary characterization of this recombinant protein for applications in diagnosis, immunization and mab production. recombinant core (r-core) was able to detect anti-core antibodies in hcv positive serum samples in a dilution rate of 1/3200. it was also capable to elicit a potent anti-hcv humoral immune response in balb/c mice. finally, we established two stable clones of hybridoma which shown to produce specific and sensitive mabs against the core protein. hcv core was able to elicit a broad range of antibody specificities depending on the immunogen conformation. therefore, it may be possible to get new mabs with higher affinities towards native conformation of core ag.