The hydrophilic fragment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 protein was expressed in
Escherichia coli
as a chimera, bound to the choline-binding domain (C-Lyt) of the major autolysin of
Streptococcus pneumoniae. The C-LytE2 chimera was purified by affinity chromatography using DEAE-Sepharose. The purified antigen was used to immunize rabbits and the specific humoral immune response to E2 protein was examined. Induction to high levels of antibodies against this HCV E2 protein was found.