| abstract |
CHEMICAL ANTIGEN CONTAINING HEPATITIS C VIRUS POLYPEPTIDE AND FC FRAGMENT TO AWAKEN AN IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSE. Chimeric antigens are disclosed herein comprising a hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen and an Fc fragment of an immunoglobulin to elicit an immune response against said antigen. The immune response is enhanced by presenting the host's immune system to an immune response domain (HCV antigen from HCV central, envelope or non-structural protein fragments) and a target binding domain (an Fc fragment). Because of the target binding domain, antigen presenting cells internalize and process chimeric antigens for antigen presentation, thereby arousing an immune response both humoral and cellular. |