The present disclosure relates to hepatitis C virus (HCV) core and minicore-binding molecules and nucleic acid sequences encoding such molecules. In particular embodiments, the present invention provides HCV core and minicore-binding molecules (e.g., monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments) with particular light chain and/or heavy chain CDRs (e.g., selected from SEQ ID NOS: 2-4 and 6-8) and methods for using such molecules to detect the presence of HCV core proteins (e.g., mature p21 core protein or minicore proteins) in a sample.

Provided herein is a human monoclonal antibody 8D6 against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The antibody binds to the E2 subunit of HCV capsid protein, and can prevent HCV from infecting susceptible host cells. By using the antibody variable region gene or the complementary determining region (CDR) gene, different forms of genetic engineering antibodies have been transformed and produced in any expression system of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells as therapeutics to prevent or treat HCV infection.

A virus infection model which overcomes the drawbacks of conventional hepatitis virus infection models is provided.

A method for constructing a virus infection model capable of recapitulating a viral life cycle, comprising infecting a cell condensate formed by culturing a tissue or organ cell in vitro with a virus. A virus infection model capable of recapitulating a viral life cycle, comprising a virus-infected cell condensate, wherein the cell condensate is formed by culturing a tissue or organ cell in vitro. A method of screening for substances with antiviral activity, comprising using the virus infection model.

A method for diagnosing hepatitis virus infection or a hepatitis disease condition in a subject based on hepatitis virus-associated biomarkers present on exosomes in a bodily fluid sample from the subject is disclosed. Also disclosed are a method for monitoring the course of a hepatitis virus infection or a hepatitis disease condition in a subject and a method for monitoring effectiveness of treatment to a subject with an anti-hepatitis virus agent based on hepatitis virus-associated biomarkers present on exosomes in bodily fluid samples from the subject, as well as a kit for diagnosing hepatitis virus infection and/or a hepatitis disease condition in a subject based on hepatitis virus-associated biomarkers on exosomes in bodily fluid samples from the subject.

Modified hepatitis C virus polypeptides are described. The polypeptides include the HCV NS4a domain and modified NS3 domain. The polypeptides retain conformational epitopes. HCV immunoassays including the polypeptides are also described.

Disclosed herein are recombinant baculoviruses suitable for detecting the presence of arthropod-borne viruses in a biological sample of a test subject. The information derived from the detection may also be used to render a diagnosis on whether the test subject is infected with the arthropod-borne viruses or not, so that proper course of treatment may be assigned to the subject.

The invention relates to a method of in-vitro detection of an infection with a hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a biological sample, comprising the simultaneous detection of the HCV capsid protein and of an antibody directed against said capsid protein, said method using, for capturing the anti-capsid antibodies, a peptide comprising an antigenic fragment derived from the truncated HCV capsid. The invention also relates to the peptide for capturing the anti-capsid antibodies and the kits comprising it.

The present disclosure relates to hepatitis C virus (HCV) core and minicore-binding molecules and nucleic acid sequences encoding such molecules. In particular embodiments, the present invention provides HCV core and minicore-binding molecules (e.g., monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments) with particular light chain and/or heavy chain CDRs (e.g., selected from SEQ ID NOS: 2-4 and 6-8) and methods for using such molecules to detect the presence of HCV core proteins (e.g., mature p21 core protein or minicore proteins) in a sample.

The invention principally relates to a method of detecting a disease agent in blood, comprising: (i) creating a sample infra-red spectrum representative of the blood, with one or more spectral components, each having a wavenumber and absorbance value; (ii) providing a reference database of spectral models, each model having one or more database spectral components of a wavenumber and an absorbance value, wherein the database spectral components identify disease agents; (iii) determining whether one or more database spectral components corresponds to one or more sample spectral components, and (iv) compiling a list of corresponding database components identified.

Modified hepatitis C virus polypeptides are described. The polypeptides include the HCV NS4a domain and modified NS3 domain. The polypeptides retain conformational epitopes. HCV immunoassays including the polypeptides are also described.