Expression of hepatitis C virus H strain envelope glycoprotein in insect cells / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Aim To express hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E (gE) deleting carboxy-terminal 31 amino acids, and detect anti-E antibody in HCV patients using expressed gE. Methods E gene derived from HCV H strain was inserted into baculovirus transfer vector containing a polyhedrin promotor. The recombinant plasmid was cotransfected into insect cell sf9 with a viral expression vector. The expression of gE was analyzed with Western blot, and the cells were used for dectecting antibodies against E1 and E2 in 35 hepatitis C patients by indirect immunofluorescence. Results A series of proteins with different relative molecular masses(Mr) could be detected by Western blot. Results from indirect immunofluorescence staining showed and only 4 patients were anti-E antibody positive gE was located in cytoplasm. Conclusion HCV gE is expressed successfully in insect cells, the study lay the foundation for further developing HCV vaccine.