Efficient hepatitis C virus replicon and its use in identifying antiviral compounds

US6689559B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Research Foundation of the State University of New York · US

Inventors

• Eckard Wimmer · Port Jefferson, US
• Chengyu Liang · Stony Brook, US
• Sung Key Jang · Jeomgok-myeon, KR
• Bumsuk Hahm · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 29, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 10, 2004
• Expiry date: Nov 29, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2800/52
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention provides a Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) replicon that efficiently replicates in an eukaryotic cell. The HCV replicon includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding a subgenomic fragments of HCV of any genotype that confer on the RNA the ability to replicate, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding an acetyl transferase selectable marker, such as puromycin. Also provided is an HCV type 1a replicon that efficiently replicates in an eukaryotic cell and includes a nucleic acid sequence encoding subgenomic fragments of type 1a HCV that confer on the RNA the ability to replicate, and a nucleic acid sequence encoding a acetyl transferase selectable marker. Further provided are eukaryotic cell lines that include an HCV replicon or an HCV type 1a replicon which efficiently replicate in the eukaryotic cell. The present invention also provides screening methods for identifying candidate compounds that inhibit the propagation of HCV.