| abstract |
Disclosed herein are chimeric antigens, comprising an hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen and a Fc fragment of an immunoglobulin for eliciting an immune response against said antigen. The immune response is enhanced by presenting the host immune system with an immune response domain (HCV antigen from HCV core, envelope, or non-structural protein fragments) and a target binding domain (an Fc fragment). By virtue of the target binding domain, antigen presenting cells internalize and process the chimeric antigens for antigen presentation, thereby eliciting both a humoral and cellular immune response. |