High expression of HCV core antigen and the study on the recombinant protein antigenicity

Part of HCV core gene fragment is expressed in E.coli.The recombinant protein C27 is fu-sion protein with GST.The specific protein iS about 30%of total bacterial protein,After purifi-cation,the purity of the recombinant protein is more than 95%.We compared C27 antigen withC11 core antigen by EL ISA using the second generation panel sera of HCV EIA d iagnostic kit.The result showed that the two antigens had the same rate of sensitivity and specificity.So,weconcluded that the expressed gene fragment may be an important region in HCV core gene,Thefusion protein may also play an important role in increasing the antigenicity of the recombinant protem.