1.
Eur J Biochem
; 268(17): 4758-68, 2001 Sep.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11532012
ABSTRACT
We screened phage libraries using sera from noninfected individuals and patients infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV). By applying different selection and maturation strategies, we identified a wide collection of efficient phage-borne ligands for HCV-specific antibodies. The selected ligands retained their antigenic properties when expressed as multimeric synthetic peptides. Peptides that mimic several immunodominant epitopes of the virus were used to develop a novel type of diagnostic assay which efficiently detects antibodies to HCV in serum. This type of analysis provides a conclusive diagnosis for many patients identified as indeterminate according to presently available serological assays.