[The detection of antibodies to HCV F protein with immune enzyme analysis using synthetic peptide.]

Alternative reading frame encoding a single protein known as protein F or core + 1 / ARFP is located in the core region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome. The presence of antibodies to the F protein of HCV in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C indicates the expression of this protein in vivo. In this study, to determine antibodies to the F protein of HCV in serum samples the methodology of the enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) was developed using the synthetic peptide F10 corresponding to the antigenic determinant of the F protein of the HCV subtype 1b. The immunogenicity and immunochemical specificity of synthetic F10 peptide has been demonstrated in laboratory animals (mice).