Hepatitis C virus surface proteins and how they shape immune responses
Antigenic structures of HCV envelope glycoproteins (Env)
Researchers are mapping the detailed shapes of hepatitis C virus surface proteins to help guide vaccine design for people at risk of or living with HCV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332405 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will determine high-resolution, atomic-level structures of the HCV envelope proteins E1 and E2 and their combined E1E2 complex using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. The team will also map the antibody binding sites (antigenic landscape) and solve the structure of E2 bound to the human receptor CD81. Engineered vaccine antigens based on these structures will be produced to inform vaccine design in a linked project. All work is done in the laboratory to provide the structural blueprint needed for future vaccine and antibody efforts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with hepatitis C or those at high risk of HCV exposure would be the primary beneficiaries and potential future trial candidates.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to hepatitis C are unlikely to gain direct, short-term benefits from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable rationally designed vaccines that prevent HCV infection and reduce long-term liver disease and cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Structure-based vaccine design has succeeded for other viruses and some HCV envelope structures exist, but a complete E1E2 structure and an effective HCV vaccine have not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stanfield, Robyn L — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Stanfield, Robyn L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.