The present disclosure provides detection methods employing HCV core lipid binding domain and DNA binding domain monoclonal antibodies. In certain embodiments, the lipid binding domain monoclonal antibody recognizes an epitope in amino acids 141 to 161 of HCV core protein.

The present disclosure provides detection methods employing HCV core lipid binding domain and DNA binding domain monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments. In certain embodiments, the lipid binding domain monoclonal antibody or antibody fragment recognizes an epitope in amino acids 141 to 161 of HCV core protein and the DNA binding domain antibody or antibody fragment recognizes an epitope in amino acids 95-123 (e.g., in amino acids 99-117) of HCV core protein.

The present invention relates to kits, arrays, compositions and methods for predicting, assessing and evaluating responsiveness and success of interferon treatment as well as for monitoring disease progression and pathophysiology in a subject treated with interferon, using OAS2, HERC5, UPS18, UBE2L6 and optionally of ISG15 genes as biomarkers.

A polypeptide comprising the contiguous amino acids 1-198 of SEQ ID NO: 2; a polypeptide, which comprises a contiguous amino acid sequence that is at least about 95% identical to the contiguous amino acids 1-198 of SEQ ID NO: 2, an epitope that is immunoreactive with an antibody that specifically binds to the core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV), and an epitope that is immunoreactive with an antibody that specifically binds to the NS4 region of HCV; a nucleic acid encoding such a polypeptide; a host cell comprising such a nucleic acid; an immunodiagnostic reagent comprising such a polypeptide; a kit comprising such an immunodiagnostic reagent; and a method of determining the presence, amount, or concentration of anti-HCV antibodies in a test sample.

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.

The present invention generally relates to combination immunoassays, reagents and kits for simultaneous detection of HCV antigens and anti-HCV antibodies in a test sample.

Provided is an affinity particle for detecting immunoglobulin G in a human specimen by a latex agglutination method, wherein the affinity particle has a volume-average particle diameter of 400 nm or less, wherein the affinity particle includes a latex particle and a protein carried on a surface of the latex particle, wherein the protein contains an antigen having a molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and wherein an amount of the protein carried on the surface of the latex particle is 1.0 g or more and 20.0 g or less per 1 mg of the affinity particle.

The present disclosure provides for novel nucleic acid constructs and methods for expressing HCV E2 protein on a cell surface as an active antigen. The present disclosure provides for a method for evaluation of protein expression. Vaccine formulations, constructs and expression vectors are all within the scope of this disclosure.

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.

Methods of identifying virus antigens are provided. In particular the antigens induce broadly neutralizing antibodies in Hepatitis C virus infections. Compositions for inducing an immune response are identified by the methods described herein.