Method for detecting nanbv associated seroconversion

Abstract

The present invention relates to recombinant expression vectors which express segments of deoxyribonucleic acid that encode recombinant HIV and HCV antigens. These recombinant expression vectors are transformed into host cells and used in a method to express large quantities of these antigens. The invention also provides compositions containing certain of the isolated antigens, diagnostic systems containing these antigens and methods of assaying body fluids to detect the presence of antibodies against the antigens of the invention.

1 . A method for detecting seroconversion associated with NANBV infection at early times after infection comprising:
 (a) initiating an immunoreaction by contacting a body fluid sample with a pure and isolated NANBV capsid antigen and C-100-3 antigen;   (b) maintaining said immunoreaction for a time period sufficient for allowing antibodies against the NANBV capsid and C-100-3 antigens present in said body fluid sample to immunoreact with said NANBV capsid and C-100-3 antigens to form immunoreaction products;   (c) detecting the presence of any of said immunoreaction products formed and thereby detecting early seroconversion and reducing the risk of a body fluid sample being erroneously characterized as non-reactive in the testing for NANBV hepatitis antibody.   
     
     
         2 . A method for detecting seroconversion associated with NANBV infection at early times after infection comprising:
 (a) initiating an immunoreaction by contacting a body fluid sample pure and isolated with NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from residue 1 to 120 of SEQ ID NO: 73 and C-100-3 antigen;   (b) maintaining said immunoreaction for a time period sufficient for allowing antibodies against said NANBV capsid and C-100-3 antigens present in the body fluid sample to immunoreact with said NANBV capsid and C-100-3 antigens to form immunoreaction products; and   (c) detecting the presence of any said immunoreaction products formed and thereby detecting early seroconversion and reducing the risk of a body fluid sample being erroneously characterized as non-reactive in the testing for NANBV hepatitis antibody.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claims 1  or  2  wherein said detecting in step (c) comprises the steps of:
 (a) admixing said immunoreaction products formed in step (b) with a labeled specific binding agent to form a labeling admixture, said labeled specific binding agent comprising a specific binding agent and a label;   (b) maintaining said labeling admixture for a period of time sufficient for any of said immunoreaction products present to bind with said labeled product; and   (c) detecting the of any said labeled product formed, and thereby the presence of said immunoreaction products.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said specific binding agent is selected from the group consisting of Protein A, anti-human IgG and anti-human IgM. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said label is selected from the group consisting of lanthanide chelate, biotin, enzyme and radioactive isotope. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said antigens are affixed to a solid matrix. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said antigens are comprised of a fusion product. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pure and isolated NANBV capsid antigen is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from the residue 1 to 120 of SEQ ID NO: 73;   (b) a NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from the residue 1 to 20 of SEQ ID NO: 73;   (c) a NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from the residue 21 to 40 of SEQ ID NO: 73;   (d) a NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from the residue 1 to 74 of SEQ ID NO: 73;   (e) a NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from the residue 69 to 120 of SEQ ID NO: 73; and   (f) a NANBV capsid antigen having the amino acid sequence from the residue 2 to 40 of SEQ ID NO: 73.   
     
     
         9 . A method for detecting seroconversion associated with NANBV infection at early times after infection and thereby reducing the number of body fluid samples erroneously characterized as non-reactive in the testing of human body fluid for NANBV hepatitis antibody by employing for each body fluid sample, in a plurality of said samples from different subjects, a method comprising:
 (a) initiating an immunoreaction by contacting each said body fluid sample with a pure and isolated NANBV capsid antigen and C-100-3 antigen;   (b) maintaining said immunoreaction for a time period sufficient for allowing antibodies against the NANBV capsid-C-100-3 antigens present in each body fluid sample to immunoreact with said NANBV capsid and C-100-3 antigens to form an immunoreaction product; and   (c) detecting the presence of any of said immunoreaction product formed and early seroconversion,   thereby reducing the number of body fluid samples in said plurality of samples erroneously characterized as non-reactive.