| abstract |
Disclosed are: an infectious chimeric HCV particle which can be used as a vaccine; Core protein, E1 protein, E2 protein and p7 protein, all of which are derived from a hepatitis type-C virus strain other than JFH-1 strain; NS2 protein derived from hepatitis type-C virus JFH-1 strain or a hepatitis type-C virus strain other than JFH-1 strain, or a chimeric NS2 protein composed of NS2 protein derived from hepatitis type-C virus JFH-1 strain and NS2 protein derived from a hepatitis type-C virus strain other than JFH-1 strain; a nucleic acid containing a chimeric gene derived from a hepatitis type-C virus, which comprises domains respectively encoding NS3 protein, NS4A protein, NS4B protein, NS5A protein and NS5B protein all derived from JFH-1 strain in this order from the 5'-side toward the 3'-side, wherein a proline residue at position-328 from the amino acid residue located at the N-terminal of the Core protein is substituted by an amino acid residue other than a proline residue; a chimeric HCV particle containing the nucleic acid; and use of the HCV particle as a vaccine. |