Expression of HCV Core Protein in Insect Cells and Evaluation 0f Its Im munological properties

Full-length cDNA coding HCV core protein was isolated from human HCV positiveserum by RT-PCR and inserted into baculovirus transfer vector.Sf9 insect cells were co-transfect-ed with the recombinant transfer vector plasmid and wild type baculovirus DNA.The recombi-nant baculoviruses containing gene of HCV core protein were obtained by plaque screening.Therecombinant HCV core proteins(20 kD)were expressed by Sf9 cells infected with recombinantviruses.Western blot and EIA revealed that the recombinant proteirls can be recognized by humanHCV positive sera,and the recombinant protein ean elicited specific anti-HCV antibody in ani-mals.