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. 2012 Jun;12(6):391-7.
doi: 10.5812/hepatmon.6141. Epub 2012 Jun 30.

The evaluation of hepatitis C virus core antigen in immunized BALB/c mice

Elham Torbati  1 , Mojgan Bandehpour, Parviz Pakzad, Nariman Mosaffa, Ameneh Koochaki, Bahram Kazemi
Affiliations

The evaluation of hepatitis C virus core antigen in immunized BALB/c mice

Elham Torbati et al. Hepat Mon. 2012 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis infection represents one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, however there is not any effective vaccine against hepatitis C which is one of the significant problems in vaccine project.

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of HCV core protein in inducing IFN-Gamma secretion and TCL activities as a vaccine in Balb/C mice.

Material and methods: Our previous cloned plasmid (HCV Core gene into pETDuet-1) applied for protein expression in bacteria. The expressed and purified recombinant protein together with Freund's adjuvant was injected to 15 Balb/c mice. The total IgG and IgG2a of immunized mice sera were evaluated after a week. Two weeks after booster injection, we studied the proliferation and IFNγ secretion of spleens, inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes lymphocytes by ELISA and ELISPOT.

Results: The FSFC (Frequency of spot forming cells) of secreting cells of immunized mice with HCV/Core protein and sera IgG2a were considerably higher than the control groups.

Conclusions: The core protein together with proper adjuvant can be a candidate vaccine against of HCV infection.

Keywords: Core protein; Hepacivirus; Recombinant Proteins.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A) Clone Confirmation, a) 100bp DNA ladder, b) 573bp Digested Insert by NdeI and XhoI; B) 573bp Core PCR Product on 1.5 % Agarose Gel
Figure 2
Figure 2
12%SDS-PAGE gel, (a) Negative Control, (b) Purified Protein (c) the Bacterial Lysate Expressing the Recombinant Core Protein (d) Nova Blue Cells Without the Recombinant Plasmid, (e) Protein Ladder
Figure 3
Figure 3
Western Blot Analysis of Core Protein
Figure 4
Figure 4
IgG2a Production in Immunized Mice in Comparison With Control Groups
Figure 5
Figure 5
Induction of Cellular Immune Response by Injection of HCV Core Protein to BALB/C Mice A) The Quantity of HCV Core Specific T Cells Expressing IFNg in Popliteal Lymph nodes in Comparison to the Negative and Positive Controls, B) The quantity of HCV Core Specific T Cells Expressing IFNg in Inguinal Lymph nodes in Comparison to the Negative and Positive Controls, C) The Quantity of HCV Core Specific T Cells Expressing IFNg in Splenocytes in Comparison to the Negative and Positive Controls
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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