Neutralization of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Available for licensing and commercial development are compositions and methods for preventing and/or treating infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The invention is based on mapping studies conducted by the inventors of two epitopes within HCV E2: epitope I and epitope II. It has been discovered that epitope I is involved in virus neutralization but that epitope II mediates antibody interference, probably an adaptation of the virus to obfuscate the immune system.