Modulation of epitope-specific anti-hepatitis C virus E2 (anti-HCV/E2) antibodies by antiviral treatment

The dynamic features of three specific anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody subpopulations directed against different conformational epitopes of the viral E2 protein (HCV/E2) have been evaluated in patients with primary and persistent HCV infection; the three subpopulations are present in patients infected with different HCV genotypes and have shown a different activity using a pseudovirus neutralization assay (antibodies e301 and e137 exhibiting high neutralizing activity, while antibody e509 enhancement of HCV infectivity). In sequential samples from five patients with primary HCV infection and different virological outcome, all samples tested negative with the single exception of the e5…