FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to peptides or nucleic acids encoding them, derived from the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The peptides are those which elicit a cytotoxic and/or helper T lymphocyte response in a host. The invention is also directed to vaccines for prevention and treatment of HCV infection and diagnostic methods for detection of HCV exposure in patients.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The about 9.6 kb single-stranded RNA genome of the HCV virus comprises a 5'- and 3'-non- coding region (NCRs) and, in between these NCRs a single long open reading frame of about 9 kb encoding an HCV polyprotein of about 3000 amino acids.

HCV polypeptides are produced by translation from the open reading frame and cotranslational proteolytic processing. Structural proteins are derived from the amino-terminal one-fourth of the coding region and include the capsid or Core protein (about 21 kDa), the El envelope glycoprotein (about 35 kDa) and the E2 envelope glycoprotein (about 70 kDa, previously called NSl), and p7 (about 7kDa). The E2 protein can occur with or without a C- terminal fusion of the p7 protein (Shimotohno et al. 1995). Recently, an alternative open reading frame in the Core-region was found which is encoding and expressing a protein of about 17 kDa called F (Frameshift) protein (Xu et al. 2001 ; Ou & Xu in US Patent Application Publication No. US2002/0076415). In the same region, ORFs for other 14-17 kDa ARFPs (Alternative Reading Frame Proteins), Al to A4, were discovered and antibodies to at least Al5 A2 and A3 were detected in sera of chronically infected patients (Walewski et al. 2001). From the remainder of the HCV coding region, the non-structural HCV proteins are derived which include NS2 (about 23 kDa), NS3 (about 70 kDa), NS4A (about 8 kDa), NS4B (about 27 kDa), NS5A (about 58 kDa) andNS5B (about 68 kDa) (Grakoui et al. 1993). HCV is the major cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide. Acute infection with HCV (20% of all acute hepatitis infections) frequently leads to chronic hepatitis (70% of all chronic hepatitis cases) and end-stage cirrhosis. It is estimated that up to 20% of HCV chronic carriers may develop cirrhosis over a time period of about 20 years and that of those with cirrhosis between 1 to 4%/year is at risk to develop liver carcinoma (Lauer & Walker 2001, Shiffman 1999). An option to increase the life-span of HCV-caused end-stage liver disease is liver transplantation (30% of all liver transplantations world-wide are due to HCV-infection).

Virus-specific, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are known to play a major role in the prevention and clearance of virus infections in vivo (Houssaint et al., 2001; Gruters et al., 2002; Tsai et al., 1997; Marray et al., 1992; Lukacher et al, 1984; Tigges et al., 1993).

MHC molecules are classified as either class I or class π. Class I MHC molecules are expressed on virtually all nucleated cells. Peptide fragments presented in the context of Class I MHC molecules are recognized by CD8+ T lymphocytes (cytotoxic T lymphocytes or CTLs). CD8+ T lymphocytes frequently mature into cytotoxic effectors which can lyse cells bearing the stimulating antigen. CTLs are particularly effective in eliminating tumor cells and in fighting viral infections. Class π MHC molecules are expressed primarily on activated lymphocytes and antigen- presenting cells. CD4+ T lymphocytes (helper T lymphocytes or HTLs) are activated with recognition of a unique peptide fragment presented by a class II MHC molecule, usually found on an antigen presenting cell like a macrophage or dendritic cell. CD4+ T lymphocytes proliferate and secrete cytokines that either support an antibody-mediated response through the production of IL-4 and IL-10 or support a cell-mediated response through the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma. T lymphocytes recognize an antigen in the form of a peptide fragment bound to the MHC class I or class II molecule rather than the intact foreign antigen itself. An antigen presented by a MHC class I molecule is typically one that is endogenously synthesized by the cell (e.g., an intracellular pathogen). The resulting cytoplasmic antigens are degraded into small fragments in the cytoplasm, usually by the proteasome (Niedermann et al.,1995). Antigens presented by MHC class II molecules are usually soluble antigens that enter the antigen presenting cell via phagocytosis, pinocytosis, or receptor-mediated endocytosis. Once in the cell, the antigen is partially degraded by acid-dependent proteases in endosomes (Blum et al., 1997; Arndt et al., 1997).

Functional HLAs are characterized by a deep binding groove to which endogenous as well as foreign, potentially antigenic peptides bind. The groove is further characterized by a well- defined shape and physico-chemical properties. HLA class I binding sites are closed, in that the peptide termini are pinned down into the ends of the groove. They are also involved in a network of hydrogen bonds with conserved HLA residues (Madden et al.,1992). In view of these restraints, the length of bound peptides is limited to 8-10 residues. However, it has been demonstrated by Henderson et al (1992) that peptides of up to 12 amino acid residues are also capable of binding HLA class I. Superposition of the structures of different HLA complexes confirmed a general mode of binding wherein peptides adopt a relatively linear, extended conformation. At the same time, a significant variability in the conformation of different peptides was observed also. This variability ranges from minor structural differences to notably different binding modes. Such variation is not unexpected in view of the fact that class I molecules can bind thousands of different peptides, varying in length (8-12 residues) and in amino acid sequence. The different class I allotypes bind peptides sharing one or two conserved amino acid residues at specific positions. These residues are referred to as anchor residues and are accommodated in complementary pockets (FaIk, K. et al., 1991). Besides primary anchors, there are also secondary anchor residues occupied in more shallow pockets (Matsumura et al., 1992). In total, six allele-specific pockets termed A-F have been characterized (Saper et al., 1991; Latron et al., 1992). The constitution of these pockets varies in accordance with the polymorphism of class I molecules, giving rise to both a high degree of specificity (limited cross reactivity) while preserving a broad binding capacity.

In contrast to HLA class I binding sites, class II sites are open at both ends. This allows peptides to extend from the actual region of binding, thereby "hanging out" at both ends (Brown et al., 1993). Class II HLAs can therefore bind peptide ligands of variable length, ranging from 9 to more than 25 amino acid residues. Similar to HLA class I, the affinity of a class π ligand is determined by a "constant" and a "variable" component. The constant part again results from a network of hydrogen bonds formed between conserved residues in the HLA class II groove and the main-chain of a bound peptide. However, this hydrogen bond pattern is not confined to the N- and C-terminal residues of the peptide but distributed over the whole of the chain. The latter is important because it restricts the conformation of complexed peptides to a strictly linear mode of binding. This is common for all class II allotypes. The second component determining the binding affinity of a peptide is variable due to certain positions of polymorphism within class II binding sites. Different allotypes form different complementary pockets within the groove, thereby accounting for subtype- dependent selection of peptides, or specificity. Importantly, the constraints on the amino acid residues held within class II pockets are in general "softer" than for class I. There is much more cross reactivity of peptides among different HLA class II allotypes. Unlike for class I, it has been impossible to identify highly conserved residue patterns in peptide ligands (so- called motifs) that correlate with the class II allotypes.

Peptides that bind some MHC complexes have been identified by acid elusion methods (Buus et al, 1988), chromatography methods (Jardetzky, et al., 1991 and FaIk et al., 1991), and by mass spectrometry methods (Hunt, et al., 1992). A review of naturally processed peptides that bind MHC class I molecules is set forth in Rotzschke and FaIk, 1991. Of the many thousand possible peptides that are encoded by a complex foreign pathogen, only a small fraction ends up in a peptide form capable of binding to MHC class I or class II antigens and can thus be recognized by T cells if containing a matching T-cell receptor. This phenomenon is known as immunodominance (Yewdell et al., 1997). More simply, immunodominance describes the phenomenon whereby immunization or exposure to a whole native antigen results in an immune response directed to one or a few "dominant" epitopes of the antigen rather than every epitope that the native antigen contains. Immunodominance is influenced by a variety of factors that include MHC-peptide affinity, antigen processing and T-cell receptor recognition.

In view of the heterogeneous immune response observed with HCV infection, induction of a multi-specific cellular immune response directed simultaneously against multiple HCV epitopes appears to be important for the development of an efficacious vaccine against HCV. There is a need, however, to establish vaccine embodiments that elicit immune responses that correspond to responses seen in patients that clear HCV infection. The large degree of HLA polymorphism is an important factor to consider with the epitope- based approach to vaccine development. To address this factor, epitope selection can include identification of peptides capable of binding at high or intermediate affinity to multiple HLA molecules or selection of peptides binding the most prevalent HLA types. Another important factor to be considered in HCV vaccine development is the existence of different HCV genotypes and subtypes. Therefore, HCV genotype- or subtype- specific immunogenic epitopes need to be identified for all considered genotypes or subtypes. However, it is preferred to identify epitopes covering more than one HCV genotype or subtype.

The different characteristics of class I and class II MHC molecules are responsible for specific problems associated with the prediction of potential T-cell epitopes. As discussed before, class I molecules bind short peptides that exhibit well-defined residue type patterns. This has led to various prediction methods that are based on experimentally determined statistical preferences for particular residue types at specific positions in the peptide. Although these methods work relatively well, uncertainties associated with non-conserved positions limit their accuracy. Methods for MHC/peptide binding prediction can grossly be subdivided into two categories: "statistical methods" that are driven by experimentally obtained affinity data and "structure- related methods" that are based on available 3D structural information of MHC molecules. Alternatively, a molecular dynamics simulation is sometimes performed to model a peptide within an MHC binding groove (Lim et al., 1996). Another approach is to combine loop modeling with simulated annealing (Rognan et al., 1999). Most research groups emphasize the importance of the scoring function used in the affinity prediction step. Several MHC binding HCV peptides have already been disclosed, e.g. in WO02/34770 (Imperial College Innovations Ltd), WO01/21189 and WO02/20035 (Epimmune), WO04/024182 (Intercell), WO95/25122 (The Scripps Research Institute), WO95/27733 (Government of the USA, Department of Health and Human Services), EP 0935662 (Chiron), WO02/26785 (Immusystems GmbH), WO95/12677 (biogenetics N. V) and WO97/34621 (Cytel Corp).

There is a need to substantially improve both the structure prediction and the affinity assessment steps of methods which predict the affinity of a peptide for a major histocompatibility (MHC) class I or class II molecule. The main problem encountered in this field is the poor performance of prediction algorithms with respect to MHC alleles for which experimentally determined data (both binding and structural information) are scarce. This is e.g. the case for HLA-C. Accordingly, while some MHC binding peptides have been identified, there is a need in the art to identify novel MHC binding peptides from HCV that can be utilized to generate an immune response against HCV from which they originate. Also, peptides predicted to bind (and binding) with reasonable affinity need a slow off rate in order to be immunogenic (Micheletti et al., 1999; Brooks et al., 1998; van der Burg et al., 1996).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to peptides or epitopes derived from the Core, El, E2, P7, NS2, NS3, NS4 (NS4A and NS4B) and NS5 (NS5A and NS5B) protein of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The peptides are those which elicit a HLA class I and/or class II restricted T lymphocyte response in an immunized host. More specific, the HLA class I restricted peptides of the present invention bind to at least one HLA molecule of the following HLA class I groups: HLA-A*01, HLA-A*02, HLA-A*03, HLA-A*11, HLA-A*24, HLA-B*07, HLA- B*08, HLA-B*35, HLA-B*40, HLA-B*44, HLA-CwO3, HLA-CwO4, HLA-CwO6 or HLA- CwO7. Preferred peptides are summarized in Table 13. The HLA class II restricted peptides of the present invention bind to at least one HLA molecule of the following HLA class II groups: HLA-DRBl, -DRB2, -DRB3, -DRB4, -DRB5, -DRB6, -DRB7, -DRB8 or -DRB9. Said HLA class II groups are sometimes summarized as HLA-DRB 1-9. Preferred class II restricted peptides are given in Table 14.

The HLA class I and π binding peptides of the invention have been identified by the method as described in WO03/105058 -Algonomics, by the method as described by Epimmune in WO01/21189 and/or by three public database prediction servers, respectively Syfpeithi, BIMAS and nHLAPred. Each of the peptides per se (as set out in the Tables) is part of the present invention. Furthermore, it is also an inventive aspect of this application that each peptide may be used in combination with the same peptide as multiple repeats, or with any other peptide(s) or epitope(s), with or without additional linkers. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a composition and more specific to a polyepitopic peptide.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least three peptides selected from the HLA-B and/or HLA-C binding peptides as disclosed in Table 13. In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least two peptides derived from a HCV protein and capable of inducing a HLA class I and/or class π restricted T lymphocyte response, wherein at least one peptide is a HLA-C binding peptide.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least two HLA class II binding peptides selected from the peptides as disclosed in Table 14.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the peptides are characterized in that they are present in the HCV consensus sequence of genotype Ia, Ib and/or 3a.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to nucleic acids encoding the peptides described herein. More particular, the present invention relates to a "minigene" or a polynucleotide that encodes a polyepitopic peptide as described herein.

The current invention also relates to a vector, plasmid, recombinant virus and host cell comprising the nucleic acid(s) or minigene(s) as described herein.

The peptides, corresponding nucleic acids and compositions of the present invention are useful for stimulating an immune response to HCV by stimulating the production of CTL and/or HTL responses. The peptide epitopes of the present invention, which are derived from native HCV amino acid sequences, have been selected so as to be able to bind to HLA molecules and induce or stimulate an immune response to HCV. In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides "nested epitopes". The present invention also relates to a polyepitopic peptide comprising a nested epitope.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides polyepitopic peptides, polynucleotides, compositions and combinations thereof that enable epitope-based vaccines from which the epitopes are capable of interacting directly or indirectly with HLA molecules encoded by various genetic alleles to provide broader population coverage than prior vaccines. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a composition comprising HCV-specific CTL epitopes, HCV-specific HTL epitopes or a combination thereof. Said composition can be in the form of a minigene comprising one or more CTL epitopes, one or more HTL epitopes, or a combination thereof. In a further embodiment, the peptides of the invention, or nucleic acids encoding mem, are

used in diagnostic methods such as the determination of a treatment regimen, the

determination of the outcome of an HCV infection, evaluation of an immune response or

evaluation of the efficacy of a vaccine.

FIGURE LEGENDS

Figure 1: HCV Ib consensus sequence (SEQ ID NO 769), based on a selection of available HCV sequences with identification (in bold) of the parts used for the 9-mer peptide design by the method as described by Algonomics N. V.; said parts are Core, NS3 and NS5; the amino

acid numbering of the 9-mers present in Tables 1-11 is based on the HCV sequence disclosed

in Figure 1.

AA start AA end part of interest AA start AA end #AA

C 1 191 191 191 El 192 383 E2 384 746 P7 747 809 NS2 810 1026 NS3 1027 1657 NS3 1160 1657 498 NS4A 1658 1711 NS4B 1712 1972 NS5A 1973 2420 NS5B 2421 3011 NS5B 2560 2850 291

Figure 2: HCV Ib consensus sequence (SEQ ID NO 770) with identification (in bold) of the

parts used for the 10-mer peptide design by the method as described by Algonomics N. V., and

used for determination of HCV genotype cross-reactivity; said parts are Core, NS3, NS4 and

NS5. The amino acid numbering is the same as for Figure 1. The amino acid numbering of

the 10-mers present in Tables 1-11 is based on the HCV sequence disclosed in Figure 2.

Figure 3: Binding of HLA-A02 reference peptide FLPSDC(F1)FPSV on HLA-A02 in a cell-

based binding assay. Figure 4: Example of a typical HLA- A02 competition experiment in a cell-based binding assay.

Figure 5: HCV Ia consensus sequence (SEQ ID NO 771) used for determination of HCV genotype cross-reactivity.

Figure 6: HCV 3a consensus sequence (SEQ ID NO 772) used for determination of HCV genotype cross-reactivity.

Figure 7: Binding versus immunogenicity in HLA-DRB 1*0401 Tg mice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to peptides derived from the Core, El, E2, P7, NS2, NS3, NS4 (NS4A and NS4B) or NS5 (NS5A and NS5B) protein of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The peptides are those which elicit a HLA class I and/or class II restricted T lymphocyte response in an immunized host. More specific, the HLA class I restricted peptides (CTL epitopes) of the present invention bind at least one HLA molecule of the following HLA class I groups: HLA-A*01, HLA- A*02, HLA-A*03, HLA-A*11, HLA-A*24, HLA-B*07, HLA-B*08, HLA-B*35, HLA- B*40, HLA-B*44, HLA-Cw03, HLA-CwO4, HLA-CwO6 or HLA-CwO7. Preferred peptides are summarized in Table 13. The HLA class II restricted peptides (HTL epitopes) of the present invention bind at least one HLA molecule of the following HLA class II groups: HLA- DRBl, -DRB2, -DRB3, -DRB4, -DRB5, -DRB6, -DRB7, -DRB8 or -DRB9. Said HLA class II groups are sometimes summarized as HLA-DRB 1-9. Preferred HTL epitopes are given in Table 14.

Each of the HLA class I and class TL peptides per se (as set out in the Tables) is part of the present invention. Furthermore, it is an aspect of the invention that each epitope may be used in combination with any other epitope. Identification of the peptides

Based on the hundreds of known HCV genotypes and subtypes (at least 3000 amino acids per sequence), thousands of theoretical CTL and/or HTL epitopes are predicted according to the methods as described herein. Starting from said long list, a first selection of epitopes has been made based on the predicted binding affinity.

The HLA class I and II binding peptides of the invention have been identified by the method as described in WO03/105058 — Algonomics, by the method as described by Epimmune in WO01/21189 and/or by three public epitope prediction servers respectively Syφeithi, BIMAS and nHLAPred.

A first set of CTL peptides is derived by the method as described in WO03/105058 by Algonomics N. V., Zwijnaarde, Belgium, which is incorporated herein by reference. Said method is directed to a structure-based prediction of the affinity of potentially antigenic peptides for major histocompatibility (MHC) receptors.

Initially, a HCV consensus sequence is designed. To do this, a selection of HCV sequences from HCV type Ib present in the "Los Alamos" database are clustered and aligned. The HCV Sequence Database from the Los Alamos National laboratory can be found on: http://hcv.lanl.gov/content/hcv-db/HelpDocs/cluster-help.htm l. The generated multiple sequence alignments have been used to identify interesting (i.e. conserved) regions in the HCV proteins for CTL epitope prediction. Figure 1 discloses the HCV consensus sequence used for the 9-mer CTL epitope prediction in the present invention. Amino acid numbering for the 9-mers present in Tables 1-11 is based on said sequence. Figure 2 discloses the HCV consensus sequence used for the 10-mer CTL epitope prediction in the present invention. Amino acid numbering for the 10-mers present in Tables 1-11 is based on said sequence. Predictions were made for HLA-AOlOl, HLA-A0201, HLA-A0301, HLA-A2402, HLA- B0702, HLA-B0801, HLA-B3501, HLA-B4403, HLA-Cw0401, HLA-Cw0602 and HLA- Cw0702. Tables 1-11 disclose the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C binding peptides of the current invention derived by the above-described algorithm. Division is made between Strong binders (S) with Kdpred <0.1μM, Medium binders (M) with Kdpred 0.1 -lμM and Weak binders (W) with Kdpred 1-1 OμM. Kdpred is the affinity (dissociation constant) as predicted by the algorithm. A further selection is made based upon the presence of the epitopes in the most prevalent genotypes. Accordingly, those peptides that are present in at least genotype 3 a, or - at least genotype Ib, or at least genotype Ia and Ib, or - at least genotypes Ia, Ib and 3a, are retained for further testing. These peptides are summarized in Table 13. Furthermore, other HCV genotypes (e.g. genotype 4a) can be retained in view of prevalence and/or importance.

A second set of peptides is identified by the method as described in WO01/21189 by Epimmune Inc., California, USA, which is incorporated herein by reference. Proprietary computer algorithms are used to rapidly identify potential epitopes from genomic or proteomic sequence data of viruses, bacteria, parasites or tumor-associated antigens. The program can also be used to modify epitopes (analogs) in order to enhance or suppress an immune response. The algorithm is based on the conversion of coefficient-based scores into KD (IC50) predictions (PIC Score) thereby facilitating combined searches involving different peptide sizes or alleles. The combined use of scaling factors and exponential power corrections resulted in best goodness of fit between calculated and actual IC50 values. Because the algorithm predicts epitope binding with any given affinity, a more stringent candidate selection procedure of selecting only top-scoring epitopes, regardless of HLA-type, can be utilized. Protein sequence data from 57 HCV isolates were evaluated for the presence of the designated supermotif or motif. The 57 strains include COLONEL-ACC-AF290978, H77-ACC-NC, HEC278830-ACC-AJ278830, LTD 1-2-XF222-ACC-AF511948, LTD6-2-XF224-ACC- AF511950, JP.HC-J1 -ACC-D 10749, US.HCV-H-ACC-M67463, US.HCV-PT-ACC- M62321, D89815-ACC-D89815, HC-J4-ACC-AF054250, HCR6-ACC-AY045702, HCV- CG1B-ΛCC-ΛF333324, HCV-JS-ΛCC-D85516, HCV-Kl -Rl -ΛCC-D50480, HCV-Sl-ACC- AF356827, HCVT050-ACC-AB049087, HPCHCPO-ACC-D45172, M1LE-ACC-AB080299, MD11-ACC-AF207752, Source-ACC-AF313916, TMORF-ACC-D89872, AU.HCV-A- ACC-AJ000009, CN.HC-C2-ACC-D10934, CN.HEBEI-ACC-L02836, DE.HCV-AD78- ACC-AJ132996, DE.HD-1-ACC-U45476, DE.NC1-ACC-AJ238800, JP.HCV-BK-ACC- M58335, JP.HCV-J-ACC-D90208, JP.HCV-N-ACC-AF139594, JPJ33-ACC-D14484, JP.JKl-ftαi-ACC-X61596, JP. JT-ACC-Dl 1355, JP.MDl-1 -ACC-AF 165045, KR.HCU16362-ACC-U16362, KR.HCV-L2-ACC-U01214, RU.274933RU-ACC- AF176573, TR.HCV-TR1-ACC-AF483269, TW.HCU89019-ACC-U89019, TW.HPCGENANTI-ACC-M84754, G2AK1 -ACC-AF 169003, HC-J6CH-ACC-AF177036, MD2A-l-ACC-AF238481, NDM228-ACC-AF169002, JPJCH- 1-ACC-AB047640, JP.JFH- 1-ACC-AB047639, JP.Td-6-ACC-D00944, JPUT971017-ACC-AB030907, MD2B-1-ACC- AF238486, JP.HC-J8-ACC-D10988, BEBEl -ACC-D50409, CB-ACC-AF046866, K3A- ACC-D28917, NZL1-ACC-D17763, DE.HCVCENS1-ACC-X76918, JP.HCV-Tr-ACC- D49374 and EG.ED43-ACC-Y11604. Predictions were made for HLA-AOlOl, HLA-A0201, HLA-Al 101, HLA-A2402, HLA- B0702, HLA-B-0801 and HLA-B4002. For B0801, no PIC algorithm is available but motif- positive sequences were selected. Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 disclose the HLA-A and HLA-B peptides of the current invention yielding PIC Scores < 100 derived by the above-described algorithm. A further selection is made based upon the presence of the epitopes in the most prevalent genotypes. Accordingly, those peptides that are present in - at least genotype 3 a, or - at least genotype Ib, or - at least genotype Ia and Ib, or - at least genotypes Ia, Ib and 3a, are retained for further testing. These peptides are summarized in table 13. Furthermore, other HCV genotypes (e.g. genotype 4a) can be retained in view of prevalence and/or importance.

A third set of peptides is identified by three publicly available algorithms. Initially, a HCV Ib consensus sequence is designed. HCV sequences from 80 HCV type Ib sequences were retrieved from the HCV sequence database http://hcv.lanl.gov/content/hcv- db/index of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The generated multiple sequence alignments are used to identify interesting regions in the HCV proteins for CTL epitope prediction. Figure 2 discloses the HCV consensus sequence used for the CTL epitope prediction. Amino acid numbering throughout the specification is based on said sequence. Based on said consensus sequence, three different prediction algorithms were used for CTL epitope prediction: A) Svfbeithi: Hans-Georg Rammensee, Jutta Bachmann, Niels Nikolaus Emmerich, Oskar Alexander Bachor, Steføn Stevanovic: SYFPEITHI: database for MHC ligands and peptide motifs. Immunogenetics (1999) 50: 213-219; www.syfpeithi.de) The prediction is based on published motifs (pool sequencing, natural ligands) and takes into consideration the amino acids in the anchor and auxiliary anchor positions, as well as other frequent amino acids. The scoring system evaluates every amino acid within a given peptide. Individual amino acids may be given the arbitrary value 1 for amino acids that are only slightly preferred in the respective position, optimal anchor residues are given the value 15; any value between these two is possible. Negative values are also possible for amino acids which are disadvantageous for the peptide's binding capacity at a certain sequence position. The allocation of values is based on the frequency of the respective amino acid in natural ligands, T-cell epitopes, or binding peptides. The maximal scores vary between different MHC alleles. Only those MHC class I alleles for which a large amount of data is available are included in the "epitope prediction" section of SYFPEITHI. SYFPEITHI does not make predictions for HLA-C alleles. Predictions were made for HLA-AOl, A0201, A03, A2402, B0702, B08 and B44. For each class, both 9- and 10-mers were predicted, except for B08, where 8- and 9-mers were predicted, but no 10-mers.

B) BIMAS: This algorithm allows users to locate and rank 8-mer, 9-mer, or 10-mer peptides that contain peptide-binding motifs for HLA class I molecules. Said rankings employ amino acid/position coefficient tables deduced from the literature by Dr. Kenneth Parker of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. The Web site (http://bimas.dcrt.nih.gov/molbio/hla_bind/) was created by Ronald Taylor of the Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis Section (BIMAS), Computational Bioscience and Engineering Laboratory (CBEL), Division of Computer Research & Technology (CIT), National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with Dr. Parker. The initial (running) score is set to 1.0. For each residue position, the program examines which amino acid is appearing at that position. The running score is then multiplied by the coefficient for that amino acid type, at that position, for the chosen HLA molecule. These coefficients have been pre-calculated and are stored for use by the scoring algorithm in a separate directory as a collection of HLA coefficient files. The idea behind these tables is the assumption that, to the first approximation, each amino acid in the peptide contributes independently to binding to the class I molecule. Dominant anchor residues, which are critical for binding, have coefficients in the tables that are significantly different from 1. Highly favorable amino acids have coefficients substantially greater than 1, and unfavorable amino acids have positive coefficients that are less than one. Auxiliary anchor residues have coefficients that are different from 1 but smaller in magnitude than dominant anchor residues. Using 9-mers, nine multiplications are performed. Using 10-mers, nine multiplications are again performed, because the residue lying at the fifth position in the sequence is skipped. The resulting running score is multiplied by a final constant to yield an estimate of the half time of disassociation. The final multiplication yields the score reported in an output table. Predictions were made for HLA-AOl, A0201, A03, A24, B07, B08, B3501, B4403, Cw0301, Cw0401, CwO6O2 and Cw0702. For each class, both 9-and 10-mers were predicted, except for B08, where 8-, 9- and 10-mers were predicted.

C) nHLAPred nHLAPred is a highly accurate MHC binders' prediction method for the large number of class I MHC alleles. (Dr. GPS Raghava, Coordinator, Bioinformatics Centre, Institute of Microbial Technology, Sector 39A, Chandigarh, India; http://imtech.rs.in/raghava). The algorithm is partitioned in two parts ComPred and ANNpred. Ln the ComPred part the prediction is based on the hybrid approach of Quantitative matrices and artificial neural network. In ANNPred the prediction is solely based on artificial neural network. ComPred: This part of the algorithm can predict the MHC binding peptides for 67 MHC alleles. The method is systematically developed as follows: Firstly, a quantitative matrix (QM) based method has been developed for 47 MHC class I alleles having minimum 15 binders available in the MHCBN database. Quantitative matrices provide a linear model with easy to implement capabilities. Another advantage of using the matrix approach is that it covers a wider range of peptides with binding potential and it gives a quantitative score to each peptide. Further, an artificial neural network (ANN) based method has been developed for 30 out of these 47 MHC alleles having 40 or more binders. The ANNs are self-training systems that are able to extract and retain the patterns present in submitted data and subsequently recognize them in previously unseen input. The ANNs are able to classify the data of MHC binders and non-binders accurately as compared to other. The ANNs are able to generalize the data very well. The major constraint of neural based prediction is that it requires large data for training. In addition, the method allows prediction of binders for 20 more MHC alleles using the quantitative matrices reported in the literature. Predictions were made for HLA-AOl, A0201, A0301, A24, B0702, B08, B3501, B4403, Cw0301, Cw0401, Cw0602 and Cw0702. nHLAPred can only predict 9-mers.

For each combination of prediction algorithm, protein and HLA allele, a list of the top ranking peptides (= predicted to have the highest affinity) is retrieved. A list was created (not shown) with all peptides for all HLA alleles in descending order of affinity. In this list, the peptides were marked according to occurrence in different HCV genotypes (Ib, Ia and/or 3a consensus sequences) and to cross-reaction between HLA alleles. For each HLA class, all peptides predicted by the different prediction servers are combined in 1 table (not shown) with the ranknumbers for each of the predictionservers per column. For each peptide the number of predictionservers that assigned a ranknumber up to 60 or 100 are counted. Those peptides that are predicted by 2 to 4 algorithms and that are within the 60 or 100 best are finally selected. If upon binding analysis (see below) only few high affinity binding peptides are identified, additional selections can be made (e.g. from peptides predicted by the Epimmune algorithm and yielding PIC scores < 1000). AU these peptides are given in Table 13. As an example, the selection of the B07 peptides has been disclosed in Example 2. A comparable procedure was followed for the other HLA-binding peptides predicted by the Epimmune algorithm and the three public algorithms.

Table 13 discloses the selection of the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C peptides of the current invention that are predicted to bind to a given HLA and that are derived by the above- described procedures. The peptide and corresponding nucleic acid compositions of the present invention are useful for inducing or stimulating an immune response to HCV by stimulating the production of CTL responses. The HLA class II binding peptides of the present invention have been identified by the method as described in WO 01/21189Al by Epimmune Inc., California, USA, which is incorporated herein by reference. Protein sequence data from 57 HCV isolates (as for the CTL prediction) were evaluated for the presence of the designated supermotif or motif. Predictions were made using the HLA DR- 1-4-7 supermotif for peptides that bind to HLA-DRBl *0401, DRBl*0101 andDRBl*0701, and using HLA DR3 motifs for peptides that bind to DRBl*0301. The predicted HTL peptides are given in Table 12. A further selection is made based upon the presence of the core of the class II epitopes in the most prevalent genotypes. The "core" is defined as the central 9 (uneven amount of total amino acids) or 10 (even amount of total amino acids) amino acids of the total epitope sequence. As an example, the core (9aa) of the following epitope (15aa-uneven) is indicated in bold/underlined: ADLMGYIPLVGAPLG. Accordingly, those peptides that have a core present in - at least genotype 3 a, or - at least genotype Ib, or at least genotype Ia and Ib, or - at least genotypes Ia, Ib and 3a, are retained for further testing. These peptides are summarized in table 14. Furthermore, other HCV genotypes (e.g. genotype 4a) can be retained in view of prevalence and/or importance.

The relationship between binding affinity for HLA class I and π molecules and immunogenicity of discrete peptides or epitopes on bound antigens (HLA molecules) can be analyzed in two different experimental approaches (see, e.g., Sette et al, 1994). E.g. as for HLA-A0201, in the first approach, the immunogenicity of potential epitopes ranging in HLA binding affinity over a 10.000-fold range can be analyzed in HLA-A0201 transgenic mice. In the second approach, the antigenicity of approximately 100 different hepatitis B virus (HBV)- derived potential epitopes, all carrying A0201 binding motifs, was assessed by using PBL from acute hepatitis patients. Pursuant to these approaches, it was determined that an affinity threshold value of approximately 500 nM (preferably 50 nM or less) determines the capacity of a peptide epitope to elicit a CTL response. Said values are not yet available for other HLA Class I alleles. These data are true for class I binding affinity measurements for naturally processed peptides and for synthesized T cell epitopes. An affinity threshold associated with immunogenicity in the context of HLA class II DR molecules has also been delineated (see, e.g., Southwood et al.,1998). In order to define a biologically significant threshold of DR binding affinity, a database of the binding affinities of 32 DR- restricted epitopes for their restricting element (i.e., the HLA molecule that binds the motif) was compiled. In this case, 1000 nM can be defined as an affinity threshold associated with immunogenicity in the context of DR molecules.

The predicted binding affinity (Score) of the peptides of the current invention are indicated in Tables 1-11. The experimentally determined binding affinity or inhibition constant (Ki) of peptides for HLA molecules can be determined as described in Example 3. The inhibition constant (Ki) is the affinity of the peptide as determined in a competition experiment with labeled reference peptide. The Ki is calculated from the experimentally determined IC50 value according to the formula: IC50

1 + [Fl-pep] /Kd

The binding affinities (Ki or IC50) of the peptides of the present invention to the respective HLA class I and II alleles are indicated in Tables 13 and 14.

"IC50" is the concentration of peptide in a binding assay at which 50% inhibition of binding of a reference peptide is observed. Throughout the specification, "binding data" results are often expressed in terms of IC50. Given the conditions in which the assays are run (i.e. limiting HLA proteins and labeled peptide concentrations), these values approximate Ki values. It should also be noted that the calculated Ki values are indicative values and are no absolute values as such, as these values depend on the quality/purity of the peptide/MHC preparations used and the type of non-linear regression used to analyze the binding data.

Binding may be determined using assay systems including those using: live cells (e.g., Ceppellini et al., 1989; Christnick et al., 1991; Busch et al., 1990; Hill et al., 1991; del Guercio et al., 1995), cell free systems using detergent lysates (e.g., Cerundolo et al., 1991), immobilized purified MHC (e. g., Hill et al., 1994; Marshall et al., 1994), ELISA systems (e.g., Reay et al., 1992), surface plasmon resonance (e.g. Khilko et al., 1993); high flux soluble phase assays (Hammer et al., 1994), and measurement of class I MHC stabilization or assembly (e.g., Ljunggren et al., 1990; Schumacher et al., 1990; Townsend et al., 1990; Parker et al., 1992). The binding assays used in the present invention are demonstrated in Examples 3 and 4. The results as shown in Table 13 and 14 are either results of individual experiments or are the mean of a number of experiments.

As used herein, "high affinity" or "strong binder" with respect to HLA class I and II molecules is defined as binding with a Ki or IC50 value of 100 nM or less; "intermediate affinity" or "mediate binder" is binding with a Ki or IC50 value of between about 100 and about 1000 nM. As used herein, "threshold affinity" is the minimal affinity a peptide needs to display for a given HLA type that assures immunogenicity with high certainty in humans and/or animals. The threshold affinity can - but must not - be different for different HLA types.

Based on the data derived from the binding experiments, a further selection of candidate epitopes is made. Higher HLA binding affinity is typically correlated with higher immunogenicity. Immunogenicity can be manifested in several different ways. Immunogenicity corresponds to whether an immune response is elicited at all, and to the vigor of any particular response, as well as to the extent of a population in which a response is elicited. For example, a peptide might elicit an immune response in a diverse array of the population, yet in no instance produce a vigorous response. In accordance with these principles, close to 90% of high affinity binding peptides have been found to be immunogenic, as contrasted with about 50% of the peptides that bind with intermediate affinity (Sette et al.,1994; Alexander et al., 2003). Moreover, higher binding affinity peptides lead to more vigorous immunogenic responses. As a result, less peptide is required to elicit a similar biological effect if a high affinity binding peptide is used. Thus, in preferred embodiments of the invention, high affinity binding peptides (strong binders) and medium affinity peptides (medium binders) are particularly useful.

Various strategies can be utilized to evaluate immunogenicity, including: 1) Evaluation of primary T cell cultures from normal individuals (see, e. g., Wentworth et al., 1995; CeHs et al., 1994; Tsai et al., 1997; Kawashima et al., 1998). This procedure involves the stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from normal subjects with a test peptide in the presence of antigen presenting cells in vitro over a period of several weeks. T cells specific for the peptide become activated during this time and are detected using, e.g., a 51Cr-release assay involving peptide sensitized target cells. 2) Immunization of HLA transgenic mice (see, e.g., Wentworth et al., 1996; Wentworth et al., 1996; Alexander et al., 1997) or surrogate mice. In this method, peptides (e.g. formulated in incomplete Freund's adjuvant) are administered subcutaneously to HLA transgenic mice or surrogate mice. Several weeks following immunization, splenocytes are removed and cultured in vitro in the presence of test peptide for approximately one week. Peptide-specific T cells are detected using, e.g., a 51Cr-release assay involving peptide sensitized target cells and target cells expressing endogenously generated antigen. 3) Demonstration of recall T cell responses from immune individuals who have effectively been vaccinated, recovered from infection, and/or from chronically infected patients (see, e.g., Rehermann et al., 1995; Doolan et al., 1997; Bertoni et al., 1997; Threlkeld et al., 1997; Diepolder et al., 1997). In applying this strategy, recall responses are detected by culturing PBL from subjects that have been naturally exposed to the antigen, for instance through infection, and thus have generated an immune response "naturally", or from patients who were vaccinated with a vaccine comprising the peptide of interest. PBL from subjects are cultured in vitro for 1-2 weeks in the presence of test peptide plus antigen presenting cells (APC) to allow activation of "memory" T cells, as compared to "naive" T cells. At the end of the culture period, T cell activity is detected using assays for T cell activity including 51Cr release involving peptide-sensitized targets, T cell proliferation, or lymphokine release.

A given epitope is stated to be immunogenic if T cell reactivity can be shown to targets sensitized with that peptide. Immunogenicity for a given epitope can further be described by the number of individuals in a group of HLA matched infected or vaccinated subjects (e.g. human, transgenic mice, surrogate mice) that show T cell reactivity to that particular epitope, or e.g. by the number of spots detected in an ELISPOT assay, as described in examples 5-8. Based on the data derived from one of these experiments, a further selection of candidate epitopes is made according to their immunogenicity. Immunogenicity for the peptides of the invention is indicated in Tables 13 and 14. A "+" indicates T cell reactivity in at least one subject.

Vaccines having a broad coverage of the existing HCV genotypes or subtypes are preferred. Genotypes Ib, Ia and 3 a are the most prevalent HCV genotypes (among HCV infected individuals) and thus important to be taken into consideration. Other genotypes (e.g. genotype 4a) can be retained in view of their prevalence and/or importance. The present invention contains all selected CTL and HTL epitopes for which immunogenicity has been shown and that are present in the consensus sequence of genotype Ib, Ia and/or genotype 3a. Said consensus sequences are shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6. Accordingly, the peptides of the present invention are present in the consensus sequence of: - at least genotype Ia, - at least genotype Ib, - at least genotype 3 a, - at least genotype 1 a and Ib, - at least genotype 1 a and 3a, - at least genotype Ib and 3a, or - at least genotype Ia, Ib and 3a.

The epitopes obtained by the methods as described herein can additionally be evaluated on the basis of their conservancy among and/or within different HCV strains or genotypes.

In a further step of the invention, an array of epitopes is selected for inclusion in a polyepitopic composition for use in a vaccine, or for selecting discrete epitopes to be included in a vaccine and/or to be encoded by nucleic acids such as a minigene. It is preferred that each of the following principles are balanced in order to make the selection: 1) Selection of either HCV native or analoged epitopes. 2) Selection of native HCV epitopes that are present in the most prevalent and/or important HCV genotypes or subtypes. 3) Epitopes are selected that have the requisite binding affinity established to be correlated with immunogenicity: for HLA class I an IC50 or Ki of 1000 nM or less, or for HLA class π an IC50 or Ki of 1000 nM or less. 4) Epitopes are selected which, upon administration, induce a T cell response (CTL and/or HTL). 5) Sufficient supermotif bearing-peptides and/or a sufficient array of allele-specific peptides are selected to give broad population coverage. It is a serious hurdle to find, for a given pathogen with a specific sequence, enough immunogenic epitopes so as to cover a complete HLA-locus and consequently a complete population. As such, considering immunogenic peptides for two or three HLA class I loci, i.e. HLA-A, -B and/or -C, significantly increases population coverage for a given pathogen. 6) Of relevance are epitopes referred to as "nested epitopes". Nested epitopes occur where at least two epitopes overlap partly or completely in a given peptide sequence. A nested peptide sequence can comprise both HLA class I and HLA class II epitopes, 2 or more HLA class I epitopes or 2 or more HLA class II epitopes. 7) It is important to screen the epitope sequence (e.g. comparing with mammal genome sequence) in order to ensure that it does not have pathological or other deleterious biological properties in the treated subject e.g. by inducing auto-antibodies. 8) When used in a polyepitopic composition, spacer amino acid residues can be introduced to avoid junctional epitopes (an epitope recognized by the immune system, not present in the target antigen, and only created by the man-made juxtaposition of epitopes), or to facilitate cleavage between epitopes and thereby enhance epitope presentation. Junctional epitopes are generally to be avoided because the recipient may generate an immune response to that non-native epitope. Of particular concern is a junctional epitope that is a "dominant epitope." A dominant epitope may lead to such a strong response that immune responses to other epitopes are diminished or suppressed.

The term "peptide" is used interchangeably with "oligopeptide" and "polypeptide" and designates a series of amino acids, connected one to the other, typically by peptide bonds between the amino and carboxyl groups of adjacent amino acids. The preferred CTL-inducing peptides of the invention are 13 residues or less in length and usually consist of 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 residues, preferably 9 or 10 residues. The preferred HLA class II binding peptides are less than 50 residues in length and usually consist of between 6 and 30 residues, more usually between 12 and 25, and often between 15 and 20 residues. More preferred, an HLA class II binding peptide consists of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more amino acid residues. The peptides of the invention can be prepared by classical chemical synthesis. "Synthetic peptide" refers to a peptide that is man-made using such methods as chemical synthesis or recombinant DNA technology. The synthesis can be carried out in homogeneous solution or in solid phase. For instance, the synthesis technique in homogeneous solution which can be used is the one described by Houbenweyl in the book entitled "Methode der organischen chemie" (Method of organic chemistry) edited by E. Wunsh, vol. 15-1 et II. THIEME, Stuttgart 1974. The polypeptides of the invention can also be prepared in solid phase according to the methods described by Atherton and Shepard in their book entitled "Solid phase peptide synthesis" (BRL Press, Oxford, 1989). The polypeptides according to this invention can also be prepared by means of recombinant DNA techniques as documented below. Conservative substitutions may be introduced in these HCV polypeptides according to the present invention. The term "conservative substitution" as used herein denotes that one amino acid residue has been replaced by another, biologically similar residue. Peptides having conservative substitutions bind the HLA molecule with a similar affinity as the original peptide and CTL' s and/or HTL' s generated to or recognizing the original peptide are activated in the presence of cells presenting the altered peptide (and/or vice versa). Examples of conservative substitutions include the substitution of one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine or methionine for another, or the substitution of one polar residue for another such as between arginine and lysine, between glutamic and aspartic acids or between glutamine and asparagine and the like. Other substitutions can be introduced as long as the peptide containing said one or more amino acid substitutions is still immunogenic. This can be analysed in ELISPOT assays as described in examples 5 and 6. Accordingly, the current invention also relates to a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence which is at least 70, 75, 80, 85 or 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of the peptide as disclosed in Tables 13 and 14, and wherein said peptide is still capable of inducing a HLA class I and/or class π restricted T lymphocyte response to cells presenting the original peptides. A strategy to improve the cross-reactivity of peptides between different HLA types or within a given supermotif or allele is to delete one or more of the deleterious residues present within a peptide and substitute a small "neutral" residue such as Ala, that may not influence T cell recognition of the peptide. Such an improved peptide is sometimes referred to as an analoged peptide. The peptides can be in their natural (uncharged) forms or in forms which are salts, and either free of modifications such as glycosylation, side chain oxidation, or phosphorylation or containing these modifications. Also included in the definition are peptides modified by additional substituents attached to the amino acids side chains, such as glycosyl units, lipids, or inorganic ions such as phosphates, as well as modifications relating to chemical conversions of the chains, such as oxidation of sulfhydryl groups. Thus, "polypeptide" or its equivalent terms is intended to include the appropriate amino acid sequence referenced, and may be subject to those of the foregoing modifications as long as its functionality is not destroyed. With regard to a particular amino acid sequence, an "epitope" is a set of amino acid residues which is involved in recognition by a particular immunoglobuHn, or in the context of T cells, those residues necessary for recognition by T cell receptor proteins and/or Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. In an immune system setting, in vivo or in vitro, an epitope is the collective features of a molecule, such as primary, secondary and tertiary peptide structure, and charge, that together form a site recognized by an immunoglobuUn, T cell receptor or HLA molecule. Throughout this specification "epitope" and "peptide" are used interchangeably. The phrases "isolated" or "biologically pure" refer to material which is substantially or essentially free from components which normally accompany the material as it is found in its native state. Thus, isolated peptides in accordance with the invention preferably do not contain materials normally associated with the peptides in their in situ environment. An "isolated" epitope refers to an epitope that does not include the whole sequence of the antigen or polypeptide from which the epitope was derived. It is to be understood that protein or peptide molecules that comprise an epitope of the invention as well as additional amino acid(s) are still within the bounds of the invention.

An "immunogenic peptide" is a peptide that comprises a sequence as disclosed in Tables 13 and/or 14, or a peptide comprising an allele-specific motif or supermotif, such that the peptide will bind an HLA molecule and induce a CTL and/or HTL response. Immunogenic peptides of the invention comprise a peptide capable of binding to an appropriate HLA molecule and the immunogenic peptide can induce an HLA- restricted cytotoxic and/or helper T cell response to the antigen from which the immunogenic peptide is derived. A CTL response is a set of different biological responses of T cells activated by cells presenting the immunogenic peptide in the MHC-I context and includes but is not limited to cellular cytotoxicity, IFN- gamma production and proliferation. An HTL response is a set of different biological responses of T cells activated by APC presenting the immunogenic peptide in the MHC-II context and includes but is not limited to cytokine production (such as EFN-gamma or IL-4) and proliferation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the immunogenic peptide consists of less than 50 amino acid residues. Even more particularly, the immunogenic peptide consists of less than 45, 40, 35, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10 or 9 amino acid residues. Sette and Sidney (1999) (incorporated herein by reference) describe the epitope approach to vaccine development and identified several HLA supermotifs, each of which corresponds to the ability of peptide ligands to bind several different HLA alleles. The HLA allelic variants that bind peptides possessing a particular HLA supermotif are collectively referred to as an HLA supertype. A "supermotif" is a peptide binding specificity shared by HLA molecules encoded by two or more HLA alleles. Preferably, a supermotif-bearing peptide is recognized with high or intermediate affinity (as defined herein) by two or more HLA antigens. The term "motif refers to the pattern of residues in a peptide of defined length, usually a peptide of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 amino acids for a class I HLA motif and from about 6 to about 50 amino acids, or more specific apeptide of 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 50 amino acids for a class II HLA motif, which is recognized by a particular HLA molecule. The fotnily of HLA molecules that bind to the Al supermotif (i.e. the HLA-Al supertype) includes at least AOlOl, A2601, A2602, A2501 and A3201. The family of HLA molecules that bind to the A2 supermotif (i.e. the HLA-A2 supertype) is comprised of at least: A0201 A0202, A0203, A0204, A0205, A0206, A0207, A0209, A0214, A6802 and A6901. Members of the family of HLA molecules that bind the A3 supermotif (the HLA-A3 supertype) include at least A0301, Al 101, A3101, A33O1 and A6801. The family of HLA molecules that bind to the A24 supermotif (i.e. the A24 supertype) includes at least A2402, A3001 and A2301. The family of HLA molecules that bind the B7 supermotif (i.e., the HLA-B7 supertype) is comprised of at least twenty six HLA-B proteins including: B0702, B0703, B0704, B0705, B1508, B35O1, B3502, B3503, B3504, B3505, B3506, B3507, B3508, B5101, B5102, B5103, B5104, B5105, B53O1, B5401, B5501, B5502, B5601, B5602, B6701 and B7801. Members of the family of HLA molecules that bind to the B44 supermotif (i.e., the B44 supertype) include at least: B1801, B1802, B3701, B4001, B4002, B4006, B4402, B4403 andB4006 (WO01/21189). According to a preferred embodiment, the immunogenic peptide of the present invention is less than 50, less than 25, less than 20 or less than 15 amino acids. Peptide motifs are typically different for each protein encoded by each human HLA allele and differ in the pattern of the primary and secondary anchor residues. "Cross-reactive binding" indicates that a peptide is bound by more than one HLA molecule derived from more than one HLA allele group or locus; a synonym is degenerate binding. "Human Leukocyte Antigen" or "HLA" is a human class I or class II Major Histocompatibility Complex (see, e.g., Stites, et al, IMMUNOLOGY, 8 ED, Lange Publishing, Los Altos, CA (1994)). "Major Histocompatibility Complex" or "MHC" is a cluster of genes that plays a role in control of the cellular interactions responsible for physiologic immune responses. In humans, the MHC complex is also known as the HLA complex. For a detailed description of the MHC and HLA complexes, see, Paul, FUNDAMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, PDED, Raven Press, New York, 1993. The HLA nomenclature used herein is generally known in the art and e.g. as described in "The HLA Factsbook, ed. Marsh et al., Academic Press, 2000". Also, information on HLA sequences and the currently used nomenclature can be found on http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/HIG/.

Polyepitopic peptides The present invention also relates to the use of the peptides as described herein for the preparation of an HCV immunogenic composition and more specific to a composition comprising at least one of the peptides as provided in Tables 13-14, possibly in combination with one or more of the same or other peptides or epitopes. The peptides of the invention can be combined via linkage to form polymers (multimers), or can be formulated in a composition without linkage, as an admixture. In a specific embodiment, the peptides of the invention can be linked as a polyepitopic peptide. The linkage of the different peptides in the polyepitopic peptide is such that the overall amino acid sequence differs from a naturally occurring sequence. Hence, the polyepitopic peptide sequence of the present invention is a non- naturally occurring sequence. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a composition or polyepitopic peptide comprising at least one peptide selected from the peptides disclosed in Tables 13 and 14. Of particular interest are the peptides with Ki or IC50 <1000 nM. More preferably, the peptides of interest are these peptides having a positive immunogenicity after evaluation by the herein described strategies. Particularly preferred are the HLA class I binding peptides identified by: - for HLA-A: SEQ ID NO 557, 1241, 1456, 1478, 1833, 1887, 67, 922, 66, 361, 1070, 1072, 1151, 71, 1233, 1269, 75, 73, 1396, 5, 87, 91, 238, 265, 1661, 1753, 76, 81, 92, 1933, 1934, 69, 2043, 2047, 74, 63, 2053, 83, 56, 155, 156, 1205, 1206, 167, 1350, 47, 146, 1609, 144, 3, 39, 158, 16, 122, 1034, 1095, 1096, 1150, 246, 1406, 23, 1483, 1512, 87, 93, 1625, 1626, 59, 1710, 250, 81, 1885, 1916, 1938, 2048, 271, 2083, 1, 877, 17, 7, 1086, 1087, 1468, 1700 and 1894; - for HLA-B: SEQ ID NO 402, 836, 381, 371, 853, 370, 387, 307, 1237, 1289, 1343, 1418, 1419, 375, 1430, 380, 450, 1582, 390, 1677, 1687, 121, 386, 372, 95, 443, 396, 455, 1441, 436, 1719, 92, 394, 1969, 287, 1237, 1289, 375, 1430, 1444, 582, 1117 and 59; - for HLA-C: SEQ ED NO 1048, 1095, 1730, 349, 475, 111, 2066, 1511, 1454, 1100 and 907. Preferred HLA class II binding peptides are the peptides with IC50 <500 nM identified by SEQ EDNO 2142, 2213, 2157, 2245, 2162, 2164, 2235, 2113, 2182, 2111, 2180, 2236, 2112, 2132, 2192, 2107, 2137, 2125, 2229, 2166, 2136, 2177, 2153, 2110, 2156, 2241, 2228, 2219, 2187, 2249, 2194, 2207 and 2237. Particularly preferred HLA class Et peptides are identified by SEQ ED NO 2235, 2164, 2162, 2113, 2182, 2180, 2236, 2149, 2112, 2201, 2249, 2158, 2108, 2107, 2229, 2194, 2156, 2228, 2207 and 2232.

More preferably, the composition or polyepitopic peptide comprises at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, 60 or more peptides. Preferably, the peptides are selected from Tables 13 and 14. Any combination of peptides is possible, e.g., the composition can comprise at least one HLA-A binding peptide and at least one HLA-B or HLA-C binding peptide. Furthermore, the composition can also comprise at least one HLA-B binding peptide and at least one HLA-C binding peptide. More specific, the composition comprises at least one HLA-A, at least one HLA-B and at least one HLA-C binding peptide. In a preferred embodiment, the polyepitopic peptide or composition comprises at least two peptides derived from a HCV protein and capable of inducing a HLA class I and/or class II restricted T lymphocyte response, wherein at least one peptide is a HLA-C binding peptide. In a further embodiment, the composition comprises at least two HLA-DRB binding peptides, preferably selected from Table 14. A "HLA-A binding peptide" is defined as a peptide capable of binding at least one molecule of the HLA-A locus. Said definition can be extrapolated to the other loci, i.e. HLA-B, HLA- C, HLA-DRB 1-9, etc.

En a particular, the epitopes of the invention can be combined in an HLA-group restricted polyepitope. The term "HLA-group restricted polyepitope" refers to a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least two epitopes binding to an allele or molecule of the same HLA group. The HLA nomenclature used herein is generally known in the art and e.g. as described in "The HLA Factsbook, ed. Marsh et al., Academic Press, 2000". In a preferred embodiment, the HLA-group restricted polyepitope is a HLA-AOl restricted polyepitope, a HLA-A02 restricted polyepitope, aHLA-A03 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-AIl restricted polyepitope, a HLA-A24 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-B07 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-B08 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-B35 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-B40 restricted polyepitope, a HLA- B44 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-Cw03 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-Cw04 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-CwO6 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-CwO7 restricted polyepitope, a HLA-DRBl*01 restricted polyepitope, HLA-DRBl*03 restricted polyepitope or HLA- DRBl *04 restricted polyepitope. The number of epitopes in a HLA-group restricted polyepitope is not limited and can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25 or more. An HLA-group restricted polyepitope can be used in a first phase of establishing the immunogenicity of a subset of epitopes in a construct. The advantage of using such an HLA-group restricted polyepitope is that a considerable number of HLA restricted epitopes can be evaluated in one and the same construct. Furthermore, a specific selection of more than one HLA-group restricted polyepitope can be administered in order to customize treatment. More specific, the selection can comprise more than one HLA-group restricted polyepitope within a given HLA-locus or covering 2, 3 or more HLA-loci.

More particular, the composition as described herein comprises linked peptides that are either contiguous or are separated by a linker or a spacer amino acid or spacer peptide. This is referred to as a polyepitopic or multi-epitopic peptide. "Link" or "join" refers to any method known in the art for functionally connecting peptides (direct of via a linker), including, without limitation, recombinant fusion, covalent bonding, non-covalent bonding, disulfide bonding, ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, polymerization, cyclization, electrostatic bonding and connecting through a central linker or carrier. Polymerization can be accomplished for example by reaction between glutaraldehyde and the -NH2 groups of the lysine residues using routine methodology. The peptides may also be linked as a branched structure through synthesis of the desired peptide directly onto a central carrier, e.g. a poly-lysyl core resin. This larger, preferably poly- or multi-epitopic, peptide can be generated synthetically, recombinantly. or via cleavage from the native source. The polyepitopic peptide can exist as a homopolymer comprising multiple copies of the same peptide, or as a heteropolymer of various peptides. Polymers have the advantage of increased immunological reaction and, where different peptide epitopes are used to make up the polymer, the additional ability to induce antibodies, HTL' s and/or CTLs that react with different antigenic determinants of the pathogenic organism targeted for an immune response. Multi-epitope constructs can for example be prepared according to the methods set forth in Ishioka et al., 1999; Velders et al., 2001; or as described in WO04/031210 - Epimmune. The polyepitopic peptide can be expressed as one protein. In order to carry out the expression of the polyepitopic peptide in bacteria, in eukaryotic cells (including yeast) or in cultured vertebrate hosts such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO), Vera cells, RKl 3, COSl, BHK5 and MDCK cells, or invertebrate hosts such as insect cells, the following steps are carried out: - transformation of an appropriate cellular host with a recombinant vector, or by means of adenoviruses, influenza viruses, BCG, and any other live carrier systems, in which a nucleotide sequence coding for one of the polypeptides of the invention has been inserted under the control of the appropriate regulatory elements, particularly a promoter recognized by the polymerases of the cellular host or of the live carrier system and in the case of a prokaryotic host, an appropriate ribosome binding site (RBS), enabling the expression in said cellular host of said nucleotide sequence, culture of said transformed cellular host under conditions enabling the expression of said insert. The polyepitopic peptide can be purified by methods well known to the person skilled in the art.

Vaccines that have broad population coverage are preferred because they are more commercially viable and generally applicable to most people. Broad population coverage can be obtained through selecting peptides that bind to HLA alleles which, when considered in total, are present in most of the individuals of the population. The A2-, A3-, and B7 supertypes are each present on the average of over 40% in each of the five major ethnic groups, i.e. Caucasian, North American Black, Japanese, Chinese and Hispanic. Coverage in excess of 80% is achieved with a combination of these supermotifs. The B44-, Al-, and A24- supertypes are present, on average, in a range from 25% to 40% in these major ethnic populations. The HLA groups CwO4, Cw03, CwO6 and CwO7 are each present, on average, in a range from 13% to 54% in these major ethnic populations. Thus, by including epitopes from most frequent HLA-A, -B and/or -C alleles, an average population coverage of 90-99% is obtained for five major ethnic groups. Especially in the field of HLA-C, experimentally determined data (both binding and immunogenic) for HCV epitopes are scarce. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a composition or polyepitopic peptide comprising at least two peptides derived from a HCV protein and capable of inducing a HLA class I and/or class II restricted T lymphocyte response, wherein at least one peptide is a HLA-C binding peptide. More preferred, said composition or polyepitopic peptide comprises at least 2, 3, 4, 5 or more HLA-C binding peptide(s). More particularly, the one or more HLA-C binding peptides are derived from at least one of the following HCV regions: Core, El, E2/NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B. Even more preferred is that the HLA-C binding peptides are furthermore characterized in that they are present in the HCV consensus sequence of genotype Ia, Ib and/or 3a. Optionally, the composition or polyepitopic peptide can furthermore comprise at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more HLA-B binding peptide(s) and/or at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more HLA-A binding peptide(s) and/or at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more HLA-DKBl-9 binding peptide(s). More preferred, the composition or the polyepitopic peptide of the present invention comprises at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more HLA-A binding peptide(s), at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more HLA-B binding peptide(s) and at least 1, 2, 3, 4 or more HLA-C binding peptide(s), optionally in combination with a HLA class II binding peptide. In a specific embodiment, the peptides are selected from Table 13 or 14.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one peptide selected from Tables 13 and 14 and at least one other HLA class I binding peptide, a HLA class π binding peptide or a HCV derived peptide. Said "other" HLA class I binding peptide and said HLA class II binding peptide to be used in combination with the peptides of the present invention can be derived from HCV or from a foreign antigen or organism (non- HCV). There is no limitation on the length of said other peptides, these can have a length of e.g. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30 or more amino acids. The "at least one" can include, e.g., at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100 or more peptides. Preferably, said HLA class I binding peptide is a peptide capable of binding one or more HLA class I alleles. More specific, said peptide is selected ftom the group consisting of peptides binding a molecule of the following HLA groups: HLA-Al, HLA-A2, HLA-A3, HLA-Al 1, HLA-A24, HLA-B7, HLA-B8, HLA-B27, HLA-B35, HLA-B40, HLA-B44, HLA-B58, HLA-B62, HLA-Cw03, HLA-CwO4, HLA-CwO6 and/or HLA-CwO7. For HLA class π, the peptides, also called HTL epitopes, are preferably selected from the group consisting of peptides binding a molecule of the HLA-loci HLA-DR, HLA-DQ and/or HLA-DP, or as described in e.g. WO95/27733, WO02/26785, WO01/21189, WO02/23770, WO03/084988, WO04/024182, Hoffmann et al., 1995, Diepolder et al., 1997, Werheimer et al, 2003 and Lamonaca et al, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference). The preferred HLA class π binding peptides are less than about 50 residues in length and usually consist of between about 6 and about 30 residues, more usually between about 12 and 25, and often between about 15 and 20 residues. For example, a HLA class II binding peptide consists of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more amino acid residues. Further and preferred examples of candidate HTL epitopes to include in a polyepitopic construct for use in a vaccine, or for selecting discrete epitopes to be included in a vaccine and/or to be encoded by nucleic acids such as a minigene are enclosed in Table 14. A "CTL inducing peptide" is a HLA Class I binding peptide that is capable of inducing a CTL response. A "HTL inducing peptide" is a HLA Class π binding peptide that is capable of inducing a HTL response.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition or polyepitopic peptide comprising at least two HLA class I binding peptides selected from Table 13 or at least two HLA class II binding peptides selected from Table 14. Any combination is possible. More preferred, the at least two peptides are selected to bind HLA molecules derived from the same or a different HLA locus, i.e. HLA-A, -B, -C or DRBl. Alternatively, the at least two peptides are selected to bind HLA molecules derived from the same or a different HLA- group. Preferred HLA-groups are: HLA-AOl, A02, A03, Al 1, A24, B07, B08, B35, B40, B44, Cw03, Cw04, CwO6, CwO7, DRBl*01, DRBl*03 andDRBl*04. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition or polyepitopic peptide comprising at least three HLA class I binding peptides selected from Table 13. Any combination is possible, for example: - at least 3 HLA-A binding peptides, at least 3 HLA-B binding peptides, - at least 3 HLA-C binding peptides, at least 2 HLA-A binding peptides and at least 1 HLA-B or HLA-C binding peptide, - at least 2 HLA-B binding peptides and at least 1 HLA-A or HLA-C binding peptide, - at least 2 HLA-C binding peptides and at least 1 HLA-A or HLA-B binding peptide, or - at least one HLA-A, at least one HLA B and at least one HLA-C binding peptide. More preferred and for each combination, the at least three peptides are selected to bind HLA molecules derived from the same or a different HLA-group. Preferred HLA-groups are: HLA-AOl, A02, A03, All, A24, B07, B08, B35, B40, B44, Cw03, CwO4, CwO6 and CwO7. More specifically, the composition or polyepitopic peptide comprises at least three peptides selected from Table 13, said at least three peptides being: - at least one HLA-A binding peptide selected from a HLA-AOl, A02, A3, All or A24 binding peptide, - at least one HLA-B binding peptide selected from a HLA-B07, B08, B35, B40 or B44 binding peptide, and/or - at least one HLA-C binding peptide selected from a HLA-Cw03, CwO4, CwO6 or CwO7 binding peptide. An HLA-AOl binding peptide is defined as a peptide capable of binding at least one molecule of the HLA-01 group. Said definition can be extrapolated to the other allele groups, i.e. A02, A03, All, A24, B07, B08, B35, B40, B44, Cw03, CwO4, CwO6, CwO7 etc. HLA class I binding peptides of the invention can be admixed with, or linked to, HLA class II binding peptides, to facilitate activation of both cytotoxic T lymphocytes and helper T lymphocytes. Accordingly, the composition or polyepitopic peptide of the present invention further comprises at least one HLA class II binding peptide. Alternatively, the composition or polyepitopic peptide of the present invention comprises at least one HLA class II binding peptide. More specific, said HLA class II binding peptide is selected from Table 14. The amount of HTL epitopes is not limiting, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more HTL epitopes can be comprised in the composition or polyepitopic peptide of the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the composition or polyepitopic peptide comprises at least three CTL peptides selected from Table 13 and at least one HTL peptide selected from Table 14. In a further embodiment, the composition or polyepitopic peptide can also comprise the universal T cell epitope called PADRE® (Epimmune, San Diego; described, for example in US Patent 5736142 or International Application WO95/07707, which are enclosed herein by reference). A 'PanDR binding peptide or PADRE® peptide" is a member of a family of molecules that binds more that one HLA class II DR molecule. The pattern that defines the PADRE® family of molecules can be thought of as an HLA Class H supermotif. PADRE® binds to most HLA-DR molecules and stimulates in vitro and in vivo human helper T lymphocyte (HTL) responses. Alternatively T-help epitopes can be used from universally used vaccines such as tetanos toxoid. In a further embodiment, the peptides in the composition or polyepitopic peptide are characterized in that they are derived from a HCV protein, and more specific from at least one of the following HCV regions selected from the group consisting of Core, El, E2/NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B. Even more preferred is that peptides are characterized in that they are present in the HCV consensus sequence of genotype Ia, Ib and/or 3a.

In a further embodiment the two or more epitopes in the polyepitopic peptide consist of discrete HCV amino acid sequences (discrete epitopes) or nested HCV ammo acid sequences (nested epitopes). Particularly preferred are "nested epitopes". Nested epitopes occur where at least two individual or discrete epitopes overlap partly or completely in a given peptide sequence. A nested epitope can comprise both HLA class I and HLA class II epitopes, 2 or more HLA class I epitopes (whereby the epitopes bind two or more alleles of class I loci, supertypes or groups), or 2 or more HLA class II epitopes (whereby the epitopes bind two or more alleles of class II loci, supertypes or groups). A nested epitope can comprise 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more individual epitopes. Nested epitopes enable epitope-based vaccines with broad population coverage as they provide a high number of epitopes by a limited number of amino acids. This is particular advantageous since the number of epitopes of a vaccine is limited by constraints originating from manufacturing, formulation and product stability. The length of the nested epitope varies according to the amount of individual epitopes included. Usually, a nested epitope consists of 9 to 35 amino acids. Preferably, the nested epitope consists of 35 amino acids or less, i.e 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10 or 9 amino acids. More preferred, the nested epitope consists of 9 to 30 amino acids, 9 to 25 amino acids, 10 to 30 amino acids or 10 to 25 amino acids. Examples of nested epitopes based on 3 or more individual epitopes identified in the present invention and whereby the individual epitopes have a binding affinity of less than 100OnM for a given HLA are shown in Table A. Said individual epitopes have an overlap of at least 3 amino acids.

Table A The nested epitopes are indicated in bold. The individual epitopes are indicated in normal font. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses a nested epitope consisting of 9 to 35 amino acids and comprising at least 2 epitopes selected from Tables 13 and 14. More specific, the nested epitope comprises 2 or more individual epitopes as given in Table A. More preferred, the nested epitope comprises 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more epitopes selected from Tables 13 and 14. Examples of such nested epitopes are presented in Table A. The present invention thus relates to a nested epitope consisting of 9 to 35 amino acids and selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO 2254 to 2278, or a part thereof, ..characterized in that the nested epitope or the part thereof comprises at least 2 individual CTL and/or HTL epitopes. More preferred, said nested epitope or part thereof comprises at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or more individual CTL and/or HTL epitopes as presented in Table A. The applications of the nested epitopes in the present invention, i.e. possible combinations, modifications, compositions, kits, therapeutic and diagnostic use, are the same as described for the (polyepitopic) peptides of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least one nested epitope or a fragment thereof as described herein.

The peptides or polypeptides or polyepitopic peptides can optionally be modified, such as by lipidation (e.g. a peptide joined to a lipid), addition of targeting or other sequences. In the HCV peptides as described herein, one cysteine residue, or 2 or more cysteine residues comprised in said peptides may be "reversibly or irreversibly blocked". An "irreversibly blocked cysteine" is a cysteine of which the cysteine thiol-group is irreversibly protected by chemical means. In particular, "irreversible protection" or "irreversible blocking" by chemical means refers to alkylation, preferably alkylation of a cysteine in a protein by means of alkylating agents, such as, for example, active halogens, ethylenimine or N-(iodoethyl)trifluoro-acetamide. In this respect, it is to be understood that alkylation of cysteine thiol-groups refers to the replacement of the thiol-hydrogen by (CH2)nR, in which n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 and R= H, COOH, NH2, CONH2 , phenyl, or any derivative thereof. Alkylation can be performed by any method known in the art, such as, for example, active halogens X(CHa)nR in which X is a halogen such as I, Br, Cl or F. Examples of active halogens are methyliodide, iodoacetic acid, iodoacetamide, and 2-bromoethylamine.

A "reversibly blocked cysteine" is a cysteine of which the cysteine thiol-groups is reversibly protected. In particular, the term "reversible protection" or "reversible blocking" as used herein contemplates covalently binding of modification agents to the cysteine thiol-groups, as well as manipulating the environment of the protein such, that the redox state of the cysteine thiol-groups remains (shielding). Reversible protection of the cysteine thiol-groups can be carried out chemically or enzymatically. The term "reversible protection by enzymatical means" as used herein contemplates reversible protection mediated by enzymes, such as for example acyl-transferases, e.g. acyl-transferases that are involved in catalysing thio- esterification, such as palmitoyl acyltransferase. The term "reversible protection by chemical means" as used herein contemplates reversible protection: 1. by modification agents that reversibly modify cysteinyls such as for example by sulphonation and thio-esteriflcation; 2. by modification agents that reversibly modify the cysteinyls of the present invention such as, for example, by heavy metals, in particular Zn2+', Cd2+, mono-, dithio- and disulfide- compounds (e.g. aryl- and alkyhnethanethiosulfonate, dithiopyridine, dithiomorpholine, dihydrolipoamide, Ellmann reagent, aldrothiol™ (Aldrich) (Rein et al. 1996), dithiocarbamates), or thiolation agents (e.g. gluthathion, N-Acetyl cysteine, cysteineamine). Dithiocarbamate comprise a broad class of molecules possessing an R1R2NC(S)SR3 functional group, which gives them the ability to react with sulphydryl groups. Thiol containing compounds are preferentially used in a concentration of 0,1-50 mM, more preferentially in a concentration of 1-50 mM, and even more preferentially in a concentration of 10-50 mM; 3. by the presence of modification agents that preserve the thiol status (stabilise), in particular antioxidantia, such as for example DTT, dihydroascorbate, vitamins and derivates, mannitol, amino acids, peptides and derivates (e.g. histidine, ergothioneine, carnosine, methionine), gallates, hydroxyanisole, hydoxytoluene, hydroquinon, hydroxymethylphenol and their derivates in concentration range of 10 μM-10 mM, more preferentially in a concentration of 1-10 mM; 4. by thiol stabilising conditions such as, for example, (i) cofactors as metal ions (Zn2+, Mg2+), ATP, (ii) pH control (e.g. for proteins in most cases pH ~5 or pH is preferentially thiol pKa -2; e.g. for peptides purified by Reversed Phase Chromatography at pH ~2). Combinations of reversible protection as described in (1), (2), (3) and (4) may be applied. The reversible protection and thiol stabilizing compounds may be presented under a monomeric, polymeric or liposomic form. The removal of the reversibly protection state of the cysteine residues can chemically or enzymatically accomplished by e.g.: - a reductant, in particular DTT, DTE, 2-mercaptoethanol, dithionite, SnCl2, sodium borohydride, hydroxylamine, TCEP, in particular in a concentration of 1-200 mM, more preferentially in a concentration of 50-200 mM; removal of the thiol stabilising conditions or agents by e.g. pH increase; enzymes, in particular thioesterases, glutaredoxine, thioredoxine, in particular in a concentration of 0,01-5 μM, even more particular in a concentration range of 0,1-5 μM.; combinations of the above described chemical and/or enzymatical conditions. The removal of the reversibly protection state of the cysteine residues can be carried out in vitro or in vivo, e.g. in a cell or in an individual. Alternatively, one cysteine residue, or 2 or more cysteine residues comprised in the HCV peptides as described herein may be mutated to a natural amino acid, preferentially to methionine, glutamic acid, glutamine or lysine.

The peptides of the invention can be combined via linkage or via a spacer amino acid to form polymers (multimers: homopolymers or heteropolymers), or can be formulated in a composition without linkage, as an admixture. The "spacer amino acid" or "spacer peptide" is typically comprised of one or more relatively small, neutral molecules, such as amino acids or amino acid mimetics, which are substantially uncharged under physiological conditions. The spacers are typically selected from, e.g., Ala, GIy, Leu, He, or other neutral spacers of nonpolar amino acids or neutral polar amino acids. It will be understood that the optionally present spacer need not be comprised of the same residues and thus may be a hetero- or homo-oligomer. When present, the spacer will be at least 1 residue, more usually 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 residues, or even up to 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 50 residues. Spacer amino acid residues can be introduced to avoid junctional epitopes (an epitope recognized by the immune system, not present in the target antigen, and only created by the man-made juxtaposition of epitopes), or to facilitate cleavage between epitopes and thereby enhance epitope presentation. Generally, the spacer sequence will include nonpolar amino acids, though polar residues such as GIu, Gk, Ser, His, and Asn could also be present, particularly for spacer sequences longer than three residues. The only outer limit on the total length and nature of each spacer sequence derives from considerations of ease of synthesis, proteolytic processing, and manipulation of the polypeptide.

Moreover, the present invention also contemplates a polypeptide comprising or consisting of multiple repeats of any of the peptides as defined above or combinations of any of the peptides as defined above.

Minigene A further embodiment of the present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a peptide selected from Tables 13 and 14. Said nucleic acids are "isolated" or "synthetic". The term "isolated" refers to material that is substantially free from components that normally accompany it as found in its naturally occurring environment. However, it should be clear that the isolated nucleic acid of the present invention might comprise heterologous cell components or a label and the like. The terms "nucleic acid" or "polynucleic acid" are used interchangeable throughout the present application and refer to a deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymer in either single- or double stranded form, which may encompass known analogues of natural nucleotides. More particular, the present invention relates to a "minigene" or a polynucleotide that encodes a polyepitopic peptide as described herein. The term "multi-epitope construct" when referring to nucleic acids can be used interchangeably with the terms "polynucleotides", "minigene" and "multi-epitope nucleic acid vaccine," and other equivalent phrases, and comprises multiple epitope nucleic acids that encode peptide epitopes of any length that can bind to a molecule functioning in the immune system, preferably a HLA class I and a T-cell receptor or a HLA class II and a T-cell receptor. The epitope nucleic acids in a multi-epitope construct can encode HLA class I epitopes, HLA class II epitopes, a combination of HLA class I and class π epitopes or a nested epitope. HLA class I-encoding epitope nucleic acids are referred to as CTL epitope nucleic acids, and HLA class H-encoding epitope nucleic acids are referred to as HTL epitope nucleic acids. Some multi-epitope constructs can have a subset of the multi-epitope nucleic acids encoding HLA class I epitopes and another subset of the multi- epitope nucleic acids encoding HLA class II epitopes. A multi-epitope construct may have one or more spacer nucleic acids. A spacer nucleic acid may flank each epitope nucleic acid in a construct. The spacer nucleic acid may encode one or more amino acids (spacer amino acids). Alternatively, minigenes can be constructed using the technology as described by Qi- Liang Cai et al., 2004. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a polynucleotide or minigene encoding a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least one peptide selected from Tables 13 and 14 or comprising at least one nested epitope selected from Table A.

Furthermore, the invention also encompasses a polynucleotide or minigene encoding a polyepitopic peptide comprising at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, 60 or more peptides. Preferably, the peptides are selected from Tables 13 and 14. Any combination of peptides is possible as described for the polyepitopic peptide. Hence, the polynucleotide or minigene can also encode one or more nested epitopes, or fragments thereof, for example as given in Table A.

More particular, the nucleic acids of the invention can be incorporated in an HLA-group restricted construct. Said "HLA-group restricted construct3 ' comprises at least two nucleic acid epitopes encoding peptides binding to an allele or molecule of the same HLA group. The number of epitopes in a HLA-group restricted construct is not limited and can be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25 or more. The same combinations are possible as described for the HLA-group restricted polyepitopic peptide.

In a preferred embodiment, the polyepitopic peptide encoded by the polynucleotide further comprises at least one HLA-class I binding peptide, a HLA class II binding peptide or a HCV derived peptide. Said HLA Class I binding peptide and said HLA Class II binding peptide can be derived from a foreign antigen or organism (non-HCV). There is no limitation on the length of said peptide, this can have a length of e.g. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30 or more amino acids.

In a further embodiment, the polynucleotide or minigene as described herein can further comprise one or more spacer nucleic acids, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more. In a particular embodiment, the minigene further comprises one or more regulatory sequences and/or one or more signal sequences and/or one or more promotor sequences.

Polynucleotides or nucleic acids that are not commercially available can be chemically synthesized according to the solid phase phosphoramidite triester method first described by Beaucage & Caruthers, 1981, using an automated synthesizer, as described in Van Devanter et. al., 1984. Purification of polynucleotides is by either native acrylamide gel electrophoresis or by anion-exchange HPLC as described in Pearson & Reanier, 1983. Other purification methods are reversed phase separation and hydroxyapatite and are well known to the skilled person. Chemically synthesized and purified polynucleotides can be assembled into longer polynucleotides by PCR-based methods (Stemmer et al., 1995; Kriegler et al., 1991). The epitopes of the multi-epitope constructs are typically subcloned into an expression vector that contains a promoter to direct transcription, as well as other regulatory sequences such as enhancers andpolyadenylation sites. Additional elements of the vector are e.g. signal or target sequences, translational initiation and termination sequences, 5' and 3' untranslated regions and introns, required for expression of the multi-epitope construct in host cells. For therapeutic or prophylactic immunization purposes, the (polyepitopic) peptides of the invention can be expressed by plasmid vectors as well as viral or bacterial vectors as already described herein. The term "vector" may comprise a plasmid, a cosmid, a prokaryotic organism, a phage, or an eukaryotic organism such as a virus, an animal or human cell or a yeast cell. The expression vector typically contains a transcription unit or expression cassette that contains all the additional elements required for the expression of the multi-epitope construct in host cells. A typical expression cassette thus contains a promoter operably linked to the multi-epitope construct and signals required for efficient polyadenylation of the transcript. Additional elements of the cassette may include enhancers and introns with functional splice donor and acceptor sites. Suitable promoters are well known in the art and described, e.g., in Sambrook et al., Molecular cloning, A Laboratory Manual (2nd ed. 1989) and in Ausubel et al, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (1994). Eukaryotic expression systems for mammalian cells are well known in the art and are commercially available. Such promoter elements include, for example, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeats (RSV LTR) and Simian Virus 40 (SV40). See, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 5,580,859 and 5,589,466 for other suitable promoter sequences. In addition to a promoter sequence, the expression cassette can also contain a transcription termination region downstream of the structural gene to provide for efficient termination. The termination region may be obtained from the same gene as the promoter sequence or may be obtained from different genes.

Medical use In a further embodiment, the present invention also relates to the (polyepitopic) peptide, nested epitope, nucleic acid, minigene or composition of the present invention for use as a medicament. Preferably, said medicament is a vaccine. In a specific embodiment the invention also relates to a vector, a plasmid, a recombinant virus or host cell comprising the nucleic acid or minigene as described herein for use a medicament. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of at least one of the peptides selected from Tables 13 and 14 or the nucleic acid sequence encoding said peptide for the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or treating a HCV infection. In a specific embodiment the invention also relates to a vector, a plasmid, a recombinant virus or host cell comprising the nucleic acid or minigene as described herein for the manufacture of a medicament for preventing or treating a HCV infection.

Vaccines and vaccine compositions The invention furthermore relates to compositions comprising any of the HCV (polyepitopic) peptides as described herein or the corresponding nucleic acids. In a specific embodiment, the composition furthermore comprises at least one of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle. The terms "composition", "immunogenic composition" and "pharmaceutical composition" are used interchangeable with "vaccine composition" or "vaccine". There are numerous embodiments of vaccines in accordance with the invention, such as by a cocktail of one or more peptides, one or more epitopes of the invention comprised in a polyepitopic peptide, and/or nucleic acids that encode such peptides or polypeptides, e.g., a minigene that encodes a polyepitopic peptide. Vaccines can also comprise peptide- pulsed antigen presenting cells, e.g., the epitope can be bound to an HLA molecule on dendritic cells. More particularly, said immunogenic composition is a vaccine composition. Even more particularly, said vaccine composition is a prophylactic vaccine composition. Alternatively, said vaccine composition may also be a therapeutic vaccine composition. The prophylactic vaccine composition refers to a vaccine composition aimed for preventing HCV infection and to be administered to healthy persons who are not yet infected with HCV. The therapeutic vaccine composition refers to a vaccine composition aimed for treatment of HCV infection and to be administered to patients being infected with HCV.

A vaccine or vaccine composition is an immunogenic composition capable of eliciting an immune response sufficiently broad and vigorous to provoke at least one or both of: - a stabilizing effect on the multiplication of a pathogen already present in a host and against which the vaccine composition is targeted. A vaccine composition may also induce an immune response in a host already infected with the pathogen against which the immune response leading to stabilization, regression or resolving of the disease; and - an increase of the rate at which a pathogen newly introduced in a host, after immunization with a vaccine composition targeted against said pathogen, is resolved from said host. A vaccine composition may also provoke an immune response broad and strong enough to exert a negative effect on the survival of a pathogen already present in a host or broad and strong enough to prevent an immunized host from developing disease symptoms caused by a newly introduced pathogen. In particular the vaccine composition of the invention is a HCV vaccine composition. In particular, the vaccine or vaccine composition comprises an effective amount of the peptides or nucleic acids of the present invention. In a specific embodiment, said vaccine composition comprises a vector, a plasmid, a recombinant virus or host cell comprising the nucleic acid or minigene of the present invention. Said vaccine composition may additionally comprise one or more further active substances and/or at least one of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle.

An "effective amount" of a peptide or nucleic acid in a vaccine or vaccine composition is referred to as an amount required and sufficient to elicit an immune response. It will be clear to the skilled artisan that the immune response sufficiently broad and vigorous to provoke the effects envisaged by the vaccine composition may require successive (in time) immunizations with the vaccine composition as part of a vaccination scheme or vaccination schedule. The "effective amount" may vary depending on the health and physical condition of the individual to be treated, the age of the individual to be treated (e.g. dosing for infants may be lower than for adults) the taxonomic group of the individual to be treated (e.g. human, non-human primate, primate, etc.), the capacity of the individual's immune system to mount an effective immune response, the degree of protection desired, the formulation of the vaccine, the treating doctor's assessment, the strain of the infecting pathogen and other relevant fectors. It is expected that the effective amount of the vaccine composition will fall in a relatively broad range that can be determined through routine trials, i.e. 0,01 - 50 mg/dose; more preferably between 0,1 - 5 mg/dose. Usually, the amount will vary from 0,01 to 1000 μg/dose, more particularly from 0,1 to 100 μg/dose. Dosage treatment may be a single dose schedule or a multiple dose schedule. The vaccine may be administered in conjunction with other immunoregulatory agents. The dosages, routes of administration, and dose schedules are adjusted in accordance with methodologies known in the art.

A composition or vaccine composition may comprise more than one peptide or nucleic acid, Le., a plurality thereof, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 or more, e.g., up to 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 or more distinct peptides or nucleic acids.

Carriers, adjuvants and vehicles — delivery Once appropriately immunogenic peptides, or the nucleic acids encoding them, have been defined, they can be sorted and delivered by various means, herein referred to as "compositions", "vaccine compositions" or "pharmaceutical compositions". The peptides of the present invention and pharmaceutical and vaccine compositions of the invention are usefull for administration to mammals, particularly humans, to treat and/or prevent HCV infection. Vaccine compositions containing the peptides of the invention, or the DNA encoding them, are administered to a patient infected with HCV or to an individual susceptible to, or otherwise at risk for, HCV infection to elicit an immune response against HCV antigens and thus enhance the patient's own immune response capabilities.

Various art-recognized delivery systems may be used to deliver peptides, polyepitopic polypeptides, or polynucleotides encoding peptides or polyepitope polypeptides, into appropriate cells. The peptides and nucleic acids encoding them can be delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or as colloidal suspensions, or as powders, with or without diluents. They can be "naked" or associated with delivery vehicles and delivered using delivery systems known in the art. A "pharmaceutically acceptable carrier" or "pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant" is any suitable excipient, diluent, carrier and/or adjuvant which, by themselves, do not induce the production of antibodies harmful to the individual receiving the composition nor do they elicit protection. Preferably, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or adjuvant enhances the immune response elicited by an antigen. Suitable carriers or adjuvantia typically comprise one or more of the compounds included in the following non-exhaustive list: large slowly metabolized macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids, polymeric amino acids, amino acid copolymers and inactive virus particles; aluminium hydroxide, aluminium phosphate (see International Patent Application Publication No. WO93/24148), alum (KA1(SO4)2.12H2O), or one of these in combination with 3-0-deacylated monophosphoryl lipid A (see International Patent Application Publication No. WO93/19780); N-acetyl-muramyl-L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine (see U.S. Patent No. 4,606,918), N-acetyl-normuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, N-acetylmuramyl-L- alanyl-D-isoglutamyl-L-alanine2-( 1 ',2'-ά^palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3 -hydroxyphosphoryloxy) ethylamine; RIBI (ImmunoChem Research Inc., Hamilton, MT, USA) which contains monophosphoryl lipid A (i.e., a detoxified endotoxin), trehalose-6,6-dimycolate, and cell wall skeleton (MPL + TDM + CWS) in a 2% squalene/Tween 80 emulsion. Any of the three components MPL, TDM or CWS may also be used alone or combined 2 by 2; adjuvants such as Stimulon (Cambridge Bioscience, Worcester, MA, USA), SAF-I (Syntex); adjuvants such as combinations between QS21 and 3-de-O-acetylated monophosphoryl lipid A (see International Application No. WO94/00153) which may be further supplemented with an oil-in- water emulsion (see, e.g., International Application Nos. WO95/17210, WO97/01640 and WO9856414) in which the oil-in-water emulsion comprises a metabolisable oil and a saponin, or a metabolisable oil, a saponin, and a sterol, or which may be further supplemented with a cytokine (see International Application No. WO98/57659); adjuvants such as MF-59 (Chiron), or poly[di(carboxylatophenoxy) phosphazene] based adjuvants (Virus Research Institute); blockcopolymer based adjuvants such as Optivax (Vaxcel, Cytrx) or inulin-based adjuvants, such as Algammulin and Gammalnulin (Anutech); Complete or Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA or IFA, respectively) or Gerbu preparations (Gerbu Biotechnik); a saponin such as QuilA, a purified saponin such as QS21, QS7 or QS17, β-escin or digitonin; immunostimulatory oligonucleotides comprising unmethylated CpG dinucleotides such as [purine-purine-CG-pyrimidine-pyrimidine] oligonucleotides. These immunostimulatory oligonucleotides include CpG class A, B, and C molecules (Coley Pharmaceuticals), ISS (Dynavax), Immunomers (Hybridon). Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides may also be combined with cationic peptides as described, e.g., by Riedl et al. (2002); Immune Stimulating Complexes comprising saponins, for example Quil A (ISCOMS); excipients and diluents, which are inherently non-toxic and non-therapeutic, such as water, saline, glycerol, ethanol, wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, preservatives, and the like; a biodegradable and/or biocompatible oil such as squalane, squalene, eicosane, tetratetracontane, glycerol, peanut oil, vegetable oil, in a concentration of, e.g., 1 to 10% or 2,5 to 5%; vitamins such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid or its salts or esters), vitamin E (tocopherol), or vitamin A; carotenoids, or natural or synthetic flavanoids; trace elements, such as selenium; any Toll-like receptor ligand as reviewed in Barton and Medzhitov (2002). Any of the afore-mentioned adjuvants comprising 3-de-O-acetylated monophosphoryl lipid A, said 3-de-O-acetylated monophosphoryl lipid A may be forming a small particle (see International Application No. WO94/21292). In any of the aforementioned adjuvants MPL or 3-de-O-acetylated monophosphoryl lipid A can be replaced by a synthetic analogue referred to as RC-529 or by any other amino-alkyl glucosaminide 4-phosphate (Johnson et al. 1999, Persing et al. 2002). Alternatively it can be replaced by other lipid A analogues such as OM-197 (ByI et al. 2003).

A "pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle" includes vehicles such as water, saline, physiological salt solutions, glycerol, ethanol, etc. Auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances, preservatives may be included in such vehicles. Delivery systems known in the art are e.g. lipopeptides, peptide compositions encapsulated in poly-DL-lactide-co-glycolide ("PLG"), microspheres, peptide compositions contained in immune stimulating complexes (ISCOMS), multiple antigen peptide systems (MAPs), viral delivery vectors, particles of viral or synthetic origin, adjuvants, liposomes, lipids, microparticles or microcapsules, gold particles, nanoparticles, polymers, condensing agents, polysaccharides, polyamino acids, dendrimers, saponins, QS21, adsorption enhancing materials, fatty acids or, naked or particle absorbed cDNA.

Typically, a vaccine or vaccine composition is prepared as an injectable, either as a liquid solution or suspension. Injection may be subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intradermal, intraepidermal, or by "gene gun". Other types of administration comprise electroporation, implantation, suppositories, oral ingestion, enteric application, inhalation, aerosolization or nasal spray or drops. Solid forms, suitable for dissolving in, or suspension in, liquid vehicles prior to injection may also be prepared. The preparation may also be emulsified or encapsulated in liposomes for enhancing adjuvant effect. A liquid formulation may include oils, polymers, vitamins, carbohydrates, amino acids, salts, buffers, albumin, surfactants, or bulking agents. Preferably carbohydrates include sugar or sugar alcohols such as mono-, di-, or polysaccharides, or water-soluble glucans. The saccharides or glucans can include fructose, dextrose, lactose, glucose, mannose, sorbose, xylose, maltose, sucrose, dextran, pullulan, dextrin, alpha and beta cyclodextrin, soluble starch, hydroxethyl starch and carboxymethylcellulose, or mixtures thereof. Sucrose is most preferred. "Sugar alcohol" is defined as a C4 to C8 hydrocarbon having an -OH group and includes galactitol, inositol, mannitol, xylitol, sorbitol, glycerol, and arabitol. Mannitol is most preferred. These sugars or sugar alcohols mentioned above may be used individually or in combination. There is no fixed limit to the amount used as long as the sugar or sugar alcohol is soluble in the aqueous preparation. Preferably, the sugar or sugar alcohol concentration is between 1,0 % (w/v) and 7,0 % (w/v), more preferable between 2,0 and 6,0 % (w/v). Preferably amino acids include levorotary (L) forms of carnitine, arginine, and betaine; however, other amino acids may be added. Preferred polymers include polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with an average molecular weight between 2,000 and 3,000, or polyethylene glycol (PEG) with an average molecular weight between 3,000 and 5,000. It is also preferred to use a buffer in the composition to minimize pH changes in the solution before lyophilization or after reconstitution. Any physiological buffer may be used, but citrate, phosphate, succinate, and glutamate buffers or mixtures thereof are preferred. Most preferred is a citrate buffer. Preferably, the concentration is from 0,01 to 0,3 molar. Surfactants that can be added to the formulation are shown in EP patent applications No. EP 0 270799 and EP 0268 110. Additionally, polypeptides can be chemically modified by covalent conjugation to a polymer to increase their circulating half-life, for example. Preferred polymers, and methods to attach them to peptides, are shown in U.S. Patent Nos.4,766,106; 4,179,337; 4,495,285; and 4,609,546. Preferred polymers are polyoxyethylated polyols and polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG is soluble in water at room temperature and has the general formula: R(O-CH2-CH2)IiO-R where R can be hydrogen, or a protective group such as an alkyl or alkanol group. Preferably, the protective group has between 1 and 8 carbons, more preferably it is methyl. The symbol n is a positive integer, preferably between 1 and 1.000, more preferably between 2 and 500. The PEG has a preferred average molecular weight between 1000 and 40.000, more preferably between 2000 and 20.000, most preferably between 3.000 and 12.000. Preferably, PEG has at least one hydroxy group, more preferably it is a terminal hydroxy group. It is this hydroxy group which is preferably activated. However, it will be understood that the type and amount of the reactive groups may be varied to achieve a covalently conjugated PEG/polypeptide of the present invention. Water soluble polyoxyethylated polyols are also useful in the present invention. They include polyoxyethylated sorbitol, polyoxyethylated glucose, polyoxyethylated glycerol (POG), etc. POG is preferred. One reason is because the glycerol backbone of polyoxyethylated glycerol is the same backbone occurring naturally in, for example, animals and humans in mono-, di-, triglycerides. Therefore, this branching would not necessarily be seen as a foreign agent in the body. The POG has a preferred molecular weight in the same range as PEG. The structure for POG is shown in Knauf et al., 1988, and a discussion of POG/IL-2 conjugates is found in U.S. Patent No. 4,766,106. Another drug delivery system for increasing circulatory half-life is the liposome. The peptides and nucleic acids of the invention may also be administered via liposomes, which serve to target a particular tissue, such as lymphoid tissue, or to target selectively infected cells, as well as to increase the half-life of the peptide and nucleic acids composition. Liposomes include emulsions, foams, micelles, insoluble monolayers, liquid crystals, phospholipid dispersions, lamellar layers and the like. In these preparations, the peptide or nucleic acids to be delivered is incorporated as part of a liposome or embedded, alone or in conjunction with a molecule which binds to a receptor prevalent among lymphoid cells, such as monoclonal antibodies which bind to the CD45 antigen, or with other therapeutic or immunogenic compositions. Thus, liposomes either filled or decorated with a desired peptide or nucleic acids of the invention can be directed to the site of lymphoid cells, where the liposomes then deliver the peptide and nucleic acids compositions. Liposomes for use in accordance with the invention are formed from standard vesicle-forming lipids, which generally include neutral and negatively charged phospholipids and a sterol, such as cholesterol. The selection of lipids is generally guided by consideration of, e.g., liposome size, acid lability and stability of the liposomes in the blood stream. A variety of methods are available for preparing liposomes, as described in, e.g., Szoka et al, 1980, and U.S. Patent Nos. 4,235,871, 4,501,728, 4,837,028, and 5,019,369. For targeting cells of the immune system, a ligand to be incorporated into the liposome can include, e.g., antibodies or fragments thereof specific for cell surface determinants of the desired immune system cells. A liposome suspension containing a peptide may be administered intravenously, locally, topically, etc. in a dose which varies according to, inter alia, the manner of administration, the peptide being delivered, and the stage of the disease being treated. For example, liposomes carrying either immunogenic polypeptides or nucleic acids encoding immunogenic epitopes are known to elicit CTL responses in vivo (Reddy et al., 1992; Collins et al., 1992; Fries et al, 1992; Nabel et al., 1992). After the liquid pharmaceutical composition is prepared, it is preferably lyophilized to prevent degradation and to preserve sterility. Methods for lyophilizing liquid compositions are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Just prior to use, the composition may be reconstituted with a sterile diluent (Ringer's solution, distilled water, or sterile saline, for example) which may include additional ingredients. Upon reconstitution, the composition is preferably administered to subjects using those methods that are known to those skilled in the art.

The approach known as "naked DNA" is currently being used for intramuscular (IM) administration in clinical trials. To maximize the immunotherapeutic effects of minigene DNA vaccines, an alternative method for formulating purified plasmid DNA may be desirable. A variety of methods have been described, and new techniques may become available. Cationic lipids can also be used in the formulation (see, e.g., as described by WO 93/24640; Mannino & Gould- Fogerite 1988; U.S. Pat No. 5,279,833; WO 91/06309; and Feigner et al., 1987. In addition, glycolipids, fiisogenic liposomes, peptides and compounds referred to collectively as protective, interactive, non-condensing compounds could also be complexed to purified plasmid DNA to influence variables such as stability, intramuscular dispersion, or trafficking to specific organs or cell types. Further examples of DNA-based delivery technologies include facilitated (bupivicaine, polymers, peptide- mediated) delivery, cationic lipid complexes, particle-mediated ("gene gun") or pressure-mediated delivery (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,922,687), DNA formulated with charged or uncharged lipids, DNA formulated in liposomes, emulsified DNA, DNA included in a viral vector, DNA formulated with a transfection-facilitating protein or polypeptide, DNA formulated with a targeting protein or polypeptide, DNA formulated with calcium precipitating agents, DNA coupled to an inert carrier molecule, and DNA formulated with an adjuvant. In this context it is noted that practically all considerations pertaining to the use of adjuvants in traditional vaccine formulation apply to the formulation of DNA vaccines.

Recombinant virus or live carrier vectors may also be directly used as live vaccines in humans. Accordingly the present invention also relates to a recombinant virus, an expression vector or a plasmid, and a host cell comprising the nucleic acid encoding at least one of the peptides as disclosed in Tables 13 and 14. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acid or minigene is introduced in the form of a vector wherein expression is under control of a viral promoter. Therefore, further embodiments of the present invention are an expression vector which comprises a polynucleotide encoding at least one of the herein described peptides and which is capable of expressing the respective peptides, a host cell comprising the expression vector and a method of producing and purifying herein described peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the herein described peptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or adjuvants. The "peptides as described herein" refer to the peptides disclosed in Tables 13 and 14.

Detailed disclosures relating to the formulation and use of nucleic acid vaccines are available, e.g. by Donnelly JJ. et al, 1997 and 1997a. Examples of expression vectors include attenuated viral hosts, such as vaccinia or fowlpox. As an example of this approach, vaccinia virus is used as a vector to express nucleotide sequences that encode the peptides of the invention. Upon introduction into a host, the recombinant vaccinia virus expresses the immunogenic peptide, and thereby elicits a host CTL and/or HTL response. Vaccinia vectors, for example Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), and methods useful in immunization protocols are described in, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 4,722,848. Another vector is BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin). BCG vectors are described in Stover et al., 1991. Further examples are: Alphaviruses (Semliki Forest Virus, Sindbis Vrius, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEE)), Transgene Herpes simplex Virus (HSV), replication-deficient strains of Adenovirus (human or simian), SV40 vectors, CMV vectors, papilloma virus vectors, and vectors derived from Epstein Barr virus. A wide variety of other vectors useful for therapeutic administration or immunization of the peptides of the invention, e.g. retroviral vectors, Salmonella typhi vectors, detoxified anthrax toxin vectors, and the like, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein.

Additional vector modifications may be desired to optimize minigene expression and immunogenicity. In some cases, introns are required for efficient gene expression, and one or more synthetic or naturally-occurring introns could be incorporated into the transcribed region of the minigene. The inclusion of mRNA stabilization sequences and sequences for replication in mammalian cells may also be considered for increasing minigene expression. In addition, immunostimulatory sequences (ISSs or CpGs) appear to play a role in the immunogenicity of nucleic acid vaccines. These sequences may be included in the vector, outside the minigene coding sequence, if desired to enhance itnmunogenicity. In some embodiments, a bi-cistronic expression vector which allows production of both the minigene-encoded epitopes and a second protein (included to enhance or decrease immunogenicity) can be used. Examples of proteins or polypeptides that could beneficially enhance the immune response if co-expressed include cytokines (e.g., IL-2, IL- 12, GM-CSF), cytokine-inducing molecules (e.g., LeIF), costimulatory molecules, or for HTL responses, pan-DR binding proteins (PADRE®, Epimmune, San Diego, CA). Helper (HTL) epitopes can be joined to intracellular targeting signals and expressed separately from expressed CTL epitopes; this allows direction of the HTL epitopes to a cell compartment different than that of the CTL epitopes. If required, this could facilitate more efficient entry of HTL epitopes into the HLA class π pathway, thereby improving HTL induction. In contrast to HTL or CTL induction, specifically decreasing the immune response by co-expression of immunosuppressive molecules (e.g. TGF-P) may be beneficial in certain diseases.

The use of multi-epitope minigenes is described in, e.g., US 6,534,482; An and Whitton, 1997; Thomson et al., 1996; Whitton et al., 1993; Hanke et al., 1998. For example, a multi- epitope DNA plasmid encoding supermotif- and/or motif-bearing HCV epitopes derived from multiple regions of the HCV polyprotein sequence, the PADRE® universal helper T cell epitope (or multiple HTL epitopes from HCV), and an endoplasmic reticulum- translocating signal sequence can be engineered.

The nucleic acids or minigenes encoding the peptides or polyepitopic polypeptides, or the peptides or polyepitopic peptides themselves, can be administered alone or in combination with other therapies known in the art. In addition, the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention can be administered in combination with other treatments designed to enhance immune responses, e.g., by co-administration with adjuvants or cytokines (or nucleic acids encoding cytokines), as is well known in the art. Accordingly, the peptides or nucleic acids or vaccine compositions of the invention can also be used in combination with antiviral drugs such as interferon, or other treatments for viral infection. All disclosures herein which relate to use of adjuvants in the context of protein or (polypeptide based pharmaceutical compositions apply mutatis mutandis to their use in nucleic acid vaccination technology. The same holds true for other considerations relating to formulation and mode and route of administration and, hence, also these considerations discussed herein in connection with a traditional pharmaceutical composition apply mutatis mutandis to their use in. nucleic acid vaccination technology.

In a farther embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of the peptide and/or nucleic acid as described herein for inducing immunity against HCV, characterized in that said peptide and/or nucleic acid is used as part of a series of time and compounds. In this regard, it is to be understood that the term "a series of time and compounds" refers to administering with time intervals to an individual the compounds used for eliciting an immune response. The latter compounds may comprise any of the following components: a peptide or polyepitopic peptide, a nucleic acid or minigene or a vector. In this respect, a series comprises administering, either: (i) a peptide or polyepitopic peptide, or (ii) a nucleic acid, minigene or vector, wherein said nucleic acid, minigene or vector can be administered simultaneously, or at different time intervals, including at alternating time intervals, or (iϋ) . a peptide or polyepitopic peptide in combination with a nucleic acid, minigene or vector, wherein said peptide or polyepitopic peptide and said nucleic acid, minigene or vector can be administered simultaneously, or at different time intervals, including at alternating time intervals, or (iv) either (i) or (ϋ), possibly in combination with other peptides or nucleic acids or vectors, with time intervals.

The peptide and nucleic acid compositions of this invention can be provided in kit form together with instructions for vaccine administration. Typically the kit would include desired peptide compositions in a container, preferably in unit dosage form and instructions for administration. An alternative kit would include a minigene construct with desired nucleic acids of the invention in a container, preferably in unit dosage form together with instructions for administration. Lymphokines such as IL-2 or BL- 12 may also be included in the kit. Other kit components that may also be desirable include, for example, a sterile syringe, booster dosages, and other desired excipients.

Use of the peptides for evaluating immune responses. The peptides may also find use as diagnostic reagents. For example, a peptide of the invention may be used to determine the susceptibility of a particular individual to a treatment regimen which employs the peptide, related peptides or any other HCV vaccine, and thus may be helpful in modifying an existing treatment protocol or in determining a prognosis for an affected individual. In addition, the peptides may also be used to predict which individuals will be at substantial risk for developing chronic HCV infection. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of determining the outcome for a subject exposed to HCV, comprising the steps of determining whether the subject has an immune response to one or more peptides selected from Tables 13 and 14.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the peptides as described herein can be used as reagents to evaluate an immune response. The immune response to be evaluated can be induced by the natural infection or by using as an immunogen any agent that may result in the production of antigen-specific CTLs or HTLs that recognize and bind to the peptide(s) to be employed as the reagent. The peptide reagent need not be used as the immunogen. Assay systems that can be used for such an analysis include relatively recent technical developments such as tetramers, staining for intracellular lymphokines and interferon release assays, or ELISPOT assays. For example, a peptide of the invention may be used in a tetramer staining assay to assess peripheral blood mononuclear cells for the presence of antigen-specific CTLs following exposure to an antigen or an immunogen. The HLA- tetrameric complex is used to directly visualize antigen-specific CTLS (see, e.g., Ogg et al., 1998; and Altaian et al., 1996) and determine the frequency of the antigen-specific CTL population in a sample of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A tetramer reagent using a peptide of the invention may be generated as follows: a peptide that binds to an HLA molecule is refolded in the presence of the corresponding HLA heavy chain and beta2-microglobulin to generate a trimolecular complex. The complex is biotinylated at the carboxyl terminal end of the heavy chain at a site that was previously engineered into the protein. Tetramer formation is then induced by the addition of streptavidin. By means of fluorescently labeled streptavidin, the tetramer can be used to stain antigen-specific cells. The cells may then be identified, for example, by flow cytometry. Such an analysis may be used for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. Cells identified by the procedure can also be used for therapeutic purposes. As an alternative to tetramers also pentamers or dimers can be used (Current Protocols in Immunology (2000) unit 17.2 supplement 35) Peptides of the invention may also be used as reagents to evaluate immune recall responses, (see, e.g., Bertoni et al., 1997 and Perma et al., 1991.)- For example, patient PBMC samples from individuals with HCV infection may be analyzed for the presence of antigen-specific CTLs or HTLs using specific peptides. A blood sample containing mononuclear cells may be evaluated by cultivating the PBMCs and stimulating the cells with a peptide of the invention. After an appropriate cultivation period, the expanded cell population may be analyzed, for example, for cytotoxic activity (CTL) or for HTL activity. The peptides may also be used as reagents to evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine. PBMCs obtained from a patient vaccinated with an imtnunogen may be analyzed using, for example, either of the methods described above. The patient is HLA typed, and peptide epitope reagents that recognize the allele-specific molecules present in that patient are selected for the analysis. The immunogenicity of the vaccine is indicated by the presence of epitope-specific CTLs and/or HTLs in the PBMC sample. The peptides of the invention may also be used to make antibodies, using techniques well known in the art (see, e.g. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN IMMUNOLOGY, Wiley/Greene, NY; and Antibodies A Laboratory Manual, Harlow and Lane, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989). Such antibodies include those that recognize a peptide in the context of an HLA molecule, i.e., antibodies that bind to a peptide-MHC complex.

TABLES The peptides of current invention are set out in Tables 1-14. As used herein, "CS fr" and "CS_to" means Consensus Sequence "from" and "to" residue numbers of the HCV consensus sequence as disclosed in Figure 1 or 2. S: Strong, Kdpred <0,lμM; M: Medium, Kdpred 0,1-lμM; W: Weak, Kdpred l-10μM

Table 1 Predicted HLA-A*0101 binding peptides

Table 2

Predicted HLA-A*0201 binding peptides

Table 3

Table 4 Predicted HLA-A*2402 binding peptides

Table 5 Predicted HLA-B*0702 binding peptides

Table 6

Predicted HLA~B*0801 binding peptides

Sl

Table 7 Predicted HLA-B*3501 binding peptides

S3

Table 8 Predicted HLA-B*4403 and HLA-B*4002 binding peptides

Table 9

Predicted HLA-Cw0401 binding peptides

Table 10 Predicted HLA-Cw0602 binding peptides

Table 11 Predicted HLA-Cw0702 binding peptides

Table 12 Predicted HLA-DRBl*0101/0401/0701 and -DRBl*0301 binding peptides

Table 13 Selection of predicted CTL epitopes Immun mice = immunogenicity in transgenic or surrogate mice Immun recall = immunoreactivity in human recall assay High = Ki > 20.00O nM Tg = transgenic mice

Table 14 Selection of HLA-DRBl*0101 and -DRBl*0301 predicted peptides Immun = Immunogenicity Cons. = presence of the "core" in the indicated consensus sequence

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Identification of CTL specific HCV peptides peptides using the Algonomics

algorithm

HLA Class I protein subclasses that should be targeted are defined: HLA-AOl, 02, 03 and 24;

HLA-B07, 08, 35 and 44; HLA-CwO4, -CwO6 and CwO7.

These HLA-Class I subclasses are modeled based on known homologue structures. Based on X-ray data, an. in depth analysis is performed of the main chain conformational changes in a given HLA-class I subclass for different peptides bound to said HLA-class I. This analysis results in rules that will be applied when generating backbone variability. On the average 8 to 10 different HLA-class I peptide complexes for each of the HLA-class I subclasses are built based on a series of epitopes and using Algonomics flexible peptide docking tools (wherein the peptide main and side chains are considered flexible, as well as the side chains of the HLA molecules). This yields in total 88 to 110 different three-dimensional models. By using the above rules for main chain flexibility and/or by using molecular dynamics techniques or main chain perturbation/relaxation approaches, about five different versions differing in main chain conformation in the neighborhood of the bound peptide of the above models are derived. Hence, about 500 different three-dimensional models of HLA-class I peptide complexes are generated. For each of the HLA-class I peptide models a prediction of the sequence variability of the peptide moieties in the context with surrounding HLA molecules is made: thread through the peptide backbones all HCV protein sequences of interest for all known HCV genotypes and asses for each "threaded" peptide the likelihood that it can form a stable complex with the underlying HLA-class I. This is done using Algonomics' advanced inverse folding tools which have been developed within the Extended Dead-End Elimination framework. The end-point of this analysis is a list of binding peptides for each of the 11 HLA-Class I subclasses.

Example 2: Identification of CTX specific B07-restricted peptides using 4 different algorithms

For the HLA B07, a selection of the best scoring peptides is retrieved from the 3 on-line prediction servers (BIMAS, Syfpeithi and nHLAPred) using HCV consensus sequence Ib, and from the PIC-algorithm described by Epimmune using 57 HCV sequences. These peptides can either be 8-mers, 9-mers, 10-mers and in some cases 11-mers. Four hundred peptides were retrieved from BIMAS, 250 peptide from Syfpeithi, 100 from nHLAPred and 58 from the PIC algorithm from Epimmune. Said peptides are given in Table 15. Table 15. Predicted CTL specific B07-restricted peptides Prot: protein GT == genotype

Those peptides that are present in at least the consensus sequence of genotype Ia and Ib, are selected. Table 15 contains all these peptides, with their score, and designated ranknumber, of each of the prediction servers in separate columns, and their occurrence in the different genotypes. A selection according to genotype and ranknumber results in 232 different peptide sequences, i.e. 150+113+45+28=336. The table 16 contains the selection of peptides for which min. 2 out of 4

prediction servers give a rank=< 100. This renders 40 different sequences. Said peptides are finally incorporated in Table 13.

The selection of potential HLA B07 peptide binders is summarized as follows: BIMAS (Bl): output prediction server: 2009-mers

200 10-mers BIMAS results: paste 9-mers + 10-mers, sort on BIMAS score -> 400 peptides, ranknumber for 9- and 10-mers separately (2x 1-200) -> BIMAS ranking for peptides with same score unknown

BIMAS selection: selection on genotype (at least in lb+la consensus):

-» 150 peptides

Svfbeithi rB07021:

output prediction server: 30029-mers

3001 10-mers

Syφeithi results: paste 9-mers + 10-mers, sort on Syfpeithi score -> select 250 peptides, 1 ranking 1-250 (126 9-mers + 124 10-mers)

-> Syφeithi ranking for peptides with same score unknown Syφeithi selection: selection on genotype (at least in lb+la consensus): -> 113 peptides

nHLAPred (B0702V output prediction server: 2009-mers no 10-mers nHLAPred results: -> select 100 peptides, ranking 1-100 -^ nHLAPred ranking for peptides with same score unknown nHLAPred selection: selection on genotype (at least in lb+la consensus): -> 45 peptides

EPMN rB07V EPMN results: 85 peptides (38 9-mers + 47 10-mers) with motif OK PIC between 0,17 and 633519; 64 with PIC =<100 EPMN selection: -^ selection on genotype:select 58 peptides, that are present in at least 1/32 Ib sequences EPMN used for predictions EPMN 2nd selection: selection on genotype (at least in lb+la consensus): -> 28 peptides (16 with PIC =<100)

Table 16. Selected B07 predicted peptides

Example 3: HLA Class I competition cell-based binding assays

The interaction of the peptides with the binding groove of the HLA molecules is studied using competition-based cellular peptide binding assays as described by Kessler et al. (2003).

Briefly, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed B cell lines (B-LCLs) expressing the class I

allele of interest are used. EBV transformation is done according to standard procedures

(Current Protocols in Immunology, 1991, Wiley Interscience). Naturally bound class I

peptide are eluted from the B-LCLs by acid-treatment to obtain free class I molecules. Subsequently, B-LCLs are incubated with a mixture of fluorescein (Fl)-labelled reference

peptide, and titrating amounts of the competing test peptide. The reference peptide should

have a known, high affinity for the HLA-molecule. Cell-bound fluorescence is determined by

flow cytometry. The inhibition of binding of the Fl-labelled reference peptide is determined

and IC50-values are calculated (IC50 = concentration of competing peptide that is able to

occupy 50% of the HLA molecules). The affinity (Kd) of the reference peptide is determined in a separate experiment in which the direct binding of different concentrations of reference peptide is monitored and data are analysed using a model for one-site binding interactions. The" inhibition constant (Ki) of the competing peptides (reflecting their affinity) is calculated as:

IC50 K1 = 1 + [Fl-pep] /Kd

[Fl-pep]: concentration of the Fl-labeled peptide used in the competition experiment.

The predicted peptides were synthesized using standard technology and tested for binding to B-LCLs with the corresponding HLA-allele. Fl-labelled reference peptides are synthesized as Cys-derivatives and labelling is performed with 5-(iodoacetamido) fluorescein at pH 8,3 (50 mM Bicarbonate/ 1 mM EDTA buffer). The labelled peptides were desalted and purified by Cl 8 RP-HPLC. Labelled peptides were analysed by mass spectrometry.

As an example, the interaction of a predicted strong binding peptide with HLA-A02 is shown. An HLA-A02 positive B-LCL (JY, Kessler et al, 2003) is used for analysing the competition of the Fl-labelled reference peptide FLPSDC(F1)FPSV and the predicted peptides (SEQ ID NO 62 to SEQ ID NO 93). The binding of the reference peptide to HLA A02 is shown in figure 3. Analysing the data according to a one-site binding model reveals an affinity of the reference peptide of about 10 nM. A typical competition experiment is shown in Figure 4. This particular set up was used for all class C binding peptides as well as part of the HLA A24 binding peptides. Table 13 contains the calculated inhibition constants (Ki).

Example 4: HLA Class I and II competition binding assays using soluble HLA

The following example of peptide binding to soluble HLA molecules demonstrates quantification of binding affinities of HLA class I and class II peptides.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed homozygous cell lines, fibroblasts or transfectants were used as sources of HLA class I molecules. Cell lysates were prepared and HLA molecules purified in accordance with disclosed protocols (Sidney et al., 1998; Sidney et al., 1995; Sette, et al., 1994). HLA molecules were purified from lysates by affinity chromatography. The lysate was passed over a column of Sepharose CL-4B beads coupled to an appropriate antibody. The antibodies used for the extraction of HLA from cell lysates are W6/32 (for HLA-A, -B and -C), B123.2 (for HLA-B and-C) and LB3.1 (for HLA-DR).

The anti-HLA column was then washed with 1OmM Tris-HCL, pH8, in 1% NP-40, PBS, and PBS containing 0,4% n-octylglucoside and HLA molecules were eluted with 5OmM diethylamine in 0,15M NaCl containing 0,4% n-octylglucoside, pH 11,5. A 1/25 volume of 2M Tris, pH6,8, was added to the eluate to reduce the pH to +/- pH8. Eluates were then concentrated by centrifugation in Centriprep 30 concentrators (Amicon, Beverly, MA). Protein content was evaluated by a BCA protein assay (Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, IL) and confirmed by SDS-PAGE.

A detailed description of the protocol utilized to measure the binding of peptides to Class I and Class π MHC has been published (Sette et al., 1994; Sidney et al., 1998). Briefly, purified MHC molecules (5 to 50OnM) were incubated with various unlabeled peptide inhibitors and 1 -1 OnM 125I-radiolabeled probe peptides for 48h in PBS containing 0,05% Nonidet P-40 (NP40) in the presence of a protease inhibitor cocktail. All assays were at pH7 with the exception of DRBl*0301, which was performed at pH 4,5, and DRB1*16O1 (DR2w21 1) and DRB4*0101 (DRw53), which were performed at pH5.

Following incubation, MHC-peptide complexes were separated from free peptide by gel filtration on 7,8 mm x 15 cm TSK200 columns (TosoHaas 16215, Montgomeryville, PA). The eluate from the TSK columns was passed through a Beckman 170 radioisotope detector, and radioactivity was plotted and integrated using a Hewlett-Packard 3396A integrator, and the fraction of peptide bound was determined. Alternatively, MHC-peptide complexes were separated from free peptide by capturing onto ELISA plates coated with anti-HLA antibodies. After free peptide has been washed away, remaining reactivities were measured using the same method as above. Radiolabeled peptides were iodinated using the chloramine-T method. Typically, in preliminary experiments, each MHC preparation was titered in the presence of fixed amounts of radiolabeled peptides to determine the concentration of HLA molecules necessary to bind 10-20% of the total radioactivity. All subsequent inhibition and direct binding assays were performed using these HLA concentrations.

Since under these conditions [label] < [HLA] and IC50 > [HLA], the measured IC50 values are reasonable approximations of the true KD values. Peptide inhibitors are typically tested at concentrations ranging from 120 μg/ml to 1,2 ng/ml, and are tested in two to four completely independent experiments. To allow comparison of the data obtained in different experiments, a relative binding figure is calculated for each peptide by dividing the IC50 of a positive control for inhibition by the IC50 for each tested peptide (typically unlabeled versions of the radiolabeled probe peptide). For database purposes, and inter-experiment comparisons, relative binding values are compiled. These values can subsequently be converted back into IC50 nM values by dividing the IC50 nM of the positive controls for inhibition by the relative binding of the peptide of interest. This method of data compilation has proven to be the most accurate and consistent for comparing peptides that have been tested on different days, or with different lots of purified MHC. This particular set up was used for all class A and B binding peptides (except for some HLA A24 binding peptides, where the cell-based binding assay was used). Table 13 contains the IC 50 values.

Because the antibody used for HLA-DR purification (LB3.1) is alpha-chain specific, beta-1 molecules are not separated from beta-3 (and/or beta-4 and beta-5) molecules. The beta-1 specificity of the binding assay is obvious in the cases of DRBl*0101 (DRl), DRB1*O8O2 (DR8w2), and DRB 1*0803 (DR8w3), where no beta-3 is expressed. It has also been demonstrated for DRBl*0301 (DR3) and DRB3*0101 (DR52a), DRBl *0401 (DR4w4), DRBl*0404 (DR4wl4), DRBl*0405 (DR4wl5), DRBl*1101 (DR5), DRB1*12O1 (DR5wl2), DRBl*1302 (DR6wl9) andDRBl*0701 (DR7). The problem of beta chain specificity for DRBl*1501 (DR2w2beta-l), DRB5*0101 (DR2w2beta-2), DRBl* 1601 (DR2w21beta-l), DRB5*0201 (DR51Dw21), andDRB4*0101 (DRw53) assays is circumvented by the use of fibroblasts. Development and validation of assays with regard to DRbeta molecule specificity have been described previously (see, e. g., Southwood et al., 1998). Table 14 contains the IC50 values. Example 5: Use of peptides to evaluate human recall responses for CD8 epitopes

The peptide epitopes of the invention are used as reagents to evaluate T cell responses, such as acute or recall responses, in patients. Such an analysis may be performed on patients who have recovered from infection, who are chronically infected with HCV, or who have been vaccinated with an HCV vaccine.

For example, PBMC are collected from patients recovered from infection and HLA typed. Appropriate peptide epitopes of the invention that are preferably binding with strong or intermediate affinity (more preferably below the threshold affinity) are then used for analysis of samples derived from patients who bear that HLA type. PBMC from these patients are separated on density gradients and plated. PBMC are stimulated with peptide on different time points. Subsequently, the cultures are tested for cytotoxic activity. Cytotoxicity assays are performed in the following manner. Target cells (either autologous or allogeneic EBV-transformed B-LCL that are established from human volunteers or patients; Current Protocols in Immunology, 1991) are incubated overnight with the synthetic peptide epitope, and labelled with 51Cr (Amersham Corp., Arlington Heights, IL) after which they are washed and radioactivity is counted. Percent cytotoxicity is determined from the formula: 100 x [(experimental release-spontaneous release)/maximum release-spontaneous release)] . Maximum release is determined by lysis of targets.

The results of such an analysis indicate the extent to which HLA-restricted CTL populations have been stimulated by previous exposure to HCV or an HCV vaccine.

Alternatively, human in vitro CTL recall responses in chronic and resolved HCV patients towards HLA-restricted HCV-specific CTL-epitopes may be evaluated in the human IFNγ ELISPOT assay. As an example, in vitro recall responses of cells from HLA-A02 donors (homozygous or heterozygous) to a selected set of HLA-A02 restricted peptides are described. Basically, in vitro CTL recall responses are visualized in the IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay after overnight incubation of human PBMC with HLA-restricted peptides. The same has been done for HLA-A*01, HLA-B*08 and HLA-CwO4, CwO6 and CwO7.

Materials and methods Human PBMC PBMC from healthy donors that are used to determine the cut off value for each individual peptide, are isolated according to the standard procedures. PBMC from chronically infected HCV patients and (therapy) resolved HCV patients are used to determine the HCV-specific responses. All donors are HLA- A02 positive. For use in the IFNγ ELISPOT assay, PBMC are thawed following standard procedures, washed twice with RPMI medium supplemented with 10% inactivate Fetal Calf Serum (iFCS) and counted with Trypan Blue in a Bϋrker Counting Chambre. Cells are resuspended in complete RPMI medium (= RPMI medium + NEAA + NaPy + Gentamycin + beta-MeOH) supplemented with 10% iFCS to the appropriate cell density.

HLA-A02 restricted CTL peptides A selection of HLA-A02 -restricted HCV peptides was made based on their affinity (IC50). The tested peptides are indicated in Table B. GILGFVFTL is a HLA-A02-restricted immunodominant Influenza-specific epitope that is used as a control peptide. All peptides are dissolved in 100% DMSO at 5 or 10 mg/ml and stored in aliquots at -20°C. Shortly before use, peptides are farther diluted in complete RPMI medium supplemented with 10% iFCS and used in the IFNγ ELISPOT assay at a final concentration of lOμg/ml.

Cytokines Lyophilized human IL-7 (R&D 207-IL) and human IL- 15 (R&D 215-IL) is reconstituted in RPMI medium supplemented with 10% iFCS at 5μg/ml and stored in aliquots at — 70°C. Both cytokines are used in the DFNγ ELISPOT assay at final concentrations of 0.5 ng/ml per cytokine.

Human JFNyELISPOT To pre-wet the membrane of the ELISPOT plates, 50 μl ethanol 99 % p.a. is added to each well. After 10 minutes at room temperature, the ethanol is removed by washing all wells twice with purified water and once with PBS. Pre-wetted 96-well ELISPOT plates are coated overnight with an anti-human IFNγ antibody (Mabtech Mab-1-DlK) and blocked for 2 hours with RPMI medium supplemented with 10 % iFCS. PBMC are resuspended in complete RPMI medium supplemented with 10% iFCS and seeded in triplicate in the coated ELISPOT plates at the required cell density between 3x105 cells/well and 4x105 cells/well. Cells are incubated with HLA-A02-restricted (CTL) peptides at 10 μg peptide/ml or with a polyclonal stimulus phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at 2 μg/ml as

positive control, with and without cytokines. After 23 hours incubation, all cells are lysed, washed away and the plates are further

developed with biotinylated anti-human EFNγ antibody (Mabtech Mab 7-B6-l-bio) and

streptavidin-HRP (BD 557630). Spots are visualized using AEC (BD 551951) as substrate. Rinsing the plates with tap water stops the color reaction. After drying the plates, the number of spots/well is determined using an A.EL.VIS ELISPOT reader. Every spot represents one

IFNγ-producing CD8+ cell.

Method for data-analysis A peptide is considered positive in human recall if at least one patient shows an active

response (= response above cut-off level P80) to that peptide and whereby this active response is seen both with and without the addition of the cytokine coctail (IL-7+IL-15).

Cut-off values are determined by measuring the immune response in healthy individuals (n==20) and are based on statistical p80 and p90 values (= 80%, resp. 90% of the back-ground

immune responses are below this cut-off value after ranking the back-ground immune response for each individual peptide). Overall, higher cut-offs are measured after addition of

cytokines.

Results Table B contains the results for a set of HLA-A02 binding peptides. The result "+" is also indicated in Table 13.

Table B

The class II restricted HTL responses may also be analyzed in a comparable way.

Example 6: Activity of CTL epitopes in Transgenic (Tg) or surrogate mice

This example illustrates the induction of CTLs in transgenic mice by use of one ore more HCV CTL eitopes. The epitope composition can comprise any combination of CTL epitopes

as described in the current invention, and more specific as given in Table 13. Similarly, a surrogate mouse can be used when no transgenic animals are available.

Surrogate mice are non-transgenic animals that express MHC molecules resembling specific human HLA molecules and as such are useful for the evaluation of human CTL and/or HTL

epitopes. Examples of surrogate mice are: CB6F1 for HLA-A24, CBA for HLA-B44, PLJ for

HLA-AOl and Balb/c for HLA-DR.

HLA-B07 and B35 epitopes For this specific example, the experiment is performed to evaluate the immunogenicity of the

peptides with Ki < 1000 nM disclosed in Table 13, section B07 and B35. The HLA-B7 restricted CTL response induced by peptides which bind to B7 or B35

emulsified in IFA in HLA-B7 Tg mice (Fl, crossed with Balb/c) is evaluated. As a comparison, a group of naϊve mice were included. The magnitude of CTL responses to the HLA-B7 and — B35 restricted epitopes in immunized HLA-B7/Kb transgenic mice are compared to the response in naϊve animals.

Experimental set-up HLA-B7/Kb transgenic mice (BALB/c x HLA-B7/Kb.C57BL/6 Fl mice; ffibxd), both male and female, were utilized. Mice were used between 8 and 14 weeks of age. Each group consisted of 3 mice and the naϊve group consisted of 4 mice. Each set up was repeated in two independent experiments.

The immunization and testing scheme is shown in Table 17. In general, HLA-B7/Kb mice were immunized with a pool of B7-restricted CTL peptides emulsified in Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFA). Nine peptide pools, each consisting of 4 to 6 CTL peptides, of similar binding affinity at a dose of 25 μg/peptide and 120 μg of the HTL epitope, HBV Core 128 (TPPAYRPPNAPIL) (known HTL epitope in these animals), were tested. Each experiment tested three of the pools, and each pool was tested in two independent experiments. Naϊve animals (non-immunized HLA-B7/Kb transgenic mice) were included in each experiment as a control group. The mice were immunized with 100 μl of the emulsion sub-cutaneously at the base of the tail. Eleven to 14 days after immunization, the mice were euthanized, and the spleens were removed.

Table 17. Immunization and testing schedule for peptide immunogenicity experiments using experiment 6 as an example.

In vivo In vitro I I 11-14 days

Spleens were disrupted with a 15-ml tissue grinder and the resulting single cell suspension was treated with DNAse solution (10 μl/spleen of 30 mg/ml DNAse in PBS), washed in RPMI-1640 with 2% FCS, and counted. Splenocytes were then incubated at 4° C for 15-20 minutes in 300μl MACS buffer (PBS with 0.5% BSA and 2mM EDTA) with 35μl of MACS CD8a(Ly-2) Microbeads/108 cells according to the manufacturer's specifications. The cells were then applied to a MACS column (Milltenyi) and washed four times. The cells were removed from the column in culture medium consisting of RPMI 1640 medium with HEPES (Gibco Life Technologies) supplemented with 10% FBS, 4 mM L-glutamine, 50 μ M 2-ME, 0,5 mM sodium pyruvate, 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 100 U/ml penicillin. (RPMI-10), washed, and counted again.

The responses to CTL epitopes were evaluated using an EFN-γ ELISPOT assay. Briefly, IP membrane-based 96- well plates (Millipore, Bedford MA) were coated overnight at 4°C with α-mouse IFN-γ monoclonal antibody (Mabtech MabANl 8) at a concentration of lOμg/ml in PBS. After washing 3 times with PBS, RPMI-10 was added to each well, and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 1 hour to block the plates. The purified CD8+ cells were applied to the blocked membrane plates at a cell concentration of 4 x 105 cells/well. The peptides were dissolved in RPMI-10 (final peptide concentration lOμg/ml), and mixed with target cells (105 HLA-B7/Kb transfected Jurkat cells/well). Controls of media only and Con A (lOμg/ml) were also utilized. The target cell/peptide mixture was layered over the effector cells in the membrane plates, which were incubated for 20 hours at 370C with 5% CO2. Media and cells were then washed off the ELISPOT plates with PBS + 0,05% Tween-20, and the plates were incubated with α-mouse biotinylated α-IFN-γ antibody (Mabtech MabR4- 6A2-Biotin) at a final concentration of 1 μg/ml for 4 hours at 37°C. After washing, the plates were incubated with Avidin-Peroxidase Complex (Vectastain), prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions, and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. Finally, the plates were developed with AEC (1 tablet 3-Amino-9-ethylcarbazole dissolved in 2,5 ml dimethylformamid, and adjusted to 50 ml with acetate buffer; 25μl of 30% H2O2 was added to the AEC solution), washed, and dried. Spots were counted using AID plate reader.

Data-analysis Each peptide was tested for recognition in both the immunized group and the naϊve group. Data was collected in triplicate for each experimental condition. The raw data for the media control were averaged for each group (both naϊve and immunized). Net spots were calculated by subtracting the average media control for each group from the raw data points within the group. The average and standard error were then calculated for each peptide, and the average and standard error were normalized to 106 cells (by multiplying by a factor of 2,5). Finally, a type 1, one-tailed T test was performed to compare the data from immunized groups to that from naϊve controls. Data was considered to

be significantly different from the naϊve controls if p<0,l. The data are reported as the number

of peptide-specific IFNγ producing cells/106 CD8+ cells.

Data from two replicate experiments are compared. Peptides with discordant data (i.e. positive in one experiment and negative in the other) are repeated in a third experiment. The

data from two or more experiments may be averaged as described above.

Peptide immunogenicity results for B7 and B35-restricted peptides. The data are shown in Tables 18 (B7) and 19 (B35), and represent responses in 2-4 independent experiments. Twenty-six peptides showed a positive response when compared

with the response in naϊve mice (p<0,l).

Ten of the peptides that were tested bound both B7 and B35 (6 peptides) or B35 only (4 peptides). Of the 6 peptides that bound both B7 and B35, four were immunogenic in the

HLA-B7/Kb transgenic mice (Table 2). The 4 peptides that bound B35 only were all negative in the B7 transgenic mice.

Table 18. Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-B7. The peptides are sorted by peptide position, and the data are reported in IFN-γ SFC/106 CD8+ splenocytes. Responses that are significant (p<0,l) are bolded. These are indicated in Table

13 as "+".

Table 19. Immunogenicity data for HCV-dcrived peptides binding to HLA-B35. The peptides are sorted by peptide position, and the data are reported in IFN-γ SFC/106 CD8+ splenocytes. Responses that are significant (p≤0,l) are bolded. These are indicated in Table 13 as "+".

HLA-AOl, A02. A03/A11. A24 and B44 epitopes Comparable experiments in the respective Tg or surrogate animals were performed for all the

peptides with Ki < 1000 nM disclosed in Table 13. The results are indicated in Tables 20-25.

Table 20. Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-AOl in surrogate mice (PLJ)

Table 21. Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-A02 in HLA-

A02 Tg mice

Table 22. Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-A03 and/or All in HLA-AIl Tg mice

Table 23. Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-B44 in

surrogate mice (CBA)

Table 24. Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-A24 in surrogate mice (Balb/c)

HLA-A24 epitopes In this experiment, a slightly different approach is used for the evaluation of the immunogenicity of the HLA-A24 binding "epitopes in that the analysis of the peptide

responses is performed in individual mice. ELISPOT results are reported as number of peptide-specific IFN-gamma producing cells per million (CD8 selected) spleen cells per mouse and the average delta values of triplicates (by subtracting the negative control conditions without stimulus) of the responses in the reacting animals are calculated. A

peptide is considered to be immunogenic in the mouse model if at least one animal shows a

significant positive response to that peptide.

Table 25: Immunogenicity data for HCV-derived peptides binding to HLA-A24 in HLA

A24 Tg mice

Example 7: Activity of HTL epitopes in Transgenic (Tg) and surrogate mice The experiments to test the immunogenicity of HLA-DR peptides differs slightly from

example 6 in that complete Freund's is used as the adjuvant. Peptides are tested in either

DRBl*0401-Tg mice or surrogate mice such as Balb/c and CBA. In this particular example,

HLA-restricted peptide responses are analyzed in pooled samples. The data for the DR4 transgenic mice are shown in table 26 and represent responses in 2 independent experiments. Seventeen of the peptides gave positive responses (defined as >10 SFC/106 CD4+ cells and p<0.05) in these mice.

The data for the H2bxd background (Balb/c) are shown in table 27 and represent responses in 2

independent experiments. Seven of the peptides give positive responses (defined as >10 SFC/106 CD4+ cells and p<0.05) in these mice.

The data for the CBA mice (H2k) are shown in table 28 and represent responses in 2 independent experiments. Twelve of the peptides give positive responses (defined as >10

SFC/106 CD4+ cells and p<0.05) in these mice.

Table 26: Immunogenicity in DR4 Tg mice

Table 27: immunogenicity in Balb/c (H2B

Immunized Naive Sequence SFC/ ± St SFC/ ± St T test 106 Error 106 Error Table 28: immunogenicity in CBA (H2k) mice

As shown in figure 7, a close relationship between binding and immunogenicity is detected. It can be concluded that all the peptides with binding affinity of less than 50OnM are immunogenic. Hence, the threshold affinity for DRBl is 50OnM.

Example 8: Immunogenicity of CTL epitopes embedded in a nested epitope

This example illustrates the induction of CTL responses to a selection of epitopes embedded in a nested epitope, when injected into susceptible mice. Similar experiments can be performed to illustrate the induction of HTL responses to epitopes embedded in a nested epitope.

For this example, the A24 specific T cell responses in HLA A24 Tg mice injected with nested epitopes containing A24 restricted epitopes is measured. The magnitude of the CTL response to the individual HLA-A24 restricted epitopes is determined and compared with the response measured towards these epitopes in cells from mice immunized with a buffer/adjuvant (CFA) control. All HLA- A24 epitopes binding with an affinity (Ki) of less than 500 nM were tested. The immunogenicity of epitopes embedded in these nested epitopes and restricted to other HLA-class I types can be evaluated in a comparable way in susceptible mice.

In vivo experimental set-up Two groups of 5 mice (age 8 to 10 weeks, randomized females and males) are included of which animals from each group receive either a single injection with a nested epitope emulsified in CFA or - as a negative control - the buffer without peptide and emulsified in CFA. All injections were performed subcutaneously at the base of the tail. In this particular experiment, the nested epitope FWAEΗMWNFISGIQYLAGLSTLPGNPA (SEQ ID NO 2278) was evaluated (table 29).

Table 29: nested epitope evaluated in A24 Tg mice In vitro experimental set-up Spleen cells from all individual animals are isolated 11 to 14 days after injection. A direct ex vivo EFN-γ ELISPOT assay is used as a surrogate CTL readout. To this, CD8 spleen cells from each individual mouse are purified by positive magnetic bead selection on (part of) the spleen cells. • For the group 05 040/3, the response in the purified CD8 spleen cells (2.10s cells/well) from each individual mouse is evaluated by presenting the HLA-A24-specific peptides (lOμg/ml) on antigen presenting cells expressing the HLA-A24/Kb molecule (104cells/well) and on gamma-irradiated syngeneic spleen cells (2.10s cells/well). After loading, the excess of peptide is removed by washing. • For the group 05 040/5, the spleen cells from each mouse are pooled prior to CD8 purification. An DFN-γ ELISPOT using the same conditions as mentioned above is performed to determine the baseline response against all peptides tested.

Table 30: overview read out Methods for data-analysis ELISPOT results are reported as number of peptide-specific IFN-γ producing cells per million (CD8/CD4 selected) spleen cells per mouse or pooled group. Based on the average/median delta values of triplicates (by subtracting the negative control conditions without stimulus), a descriptive comparison between different groups/experimental set-ups for each epitope tested is made. In addition, non-specific background responses in control-immunized mice are used as an additional negative control to determine the immunogenicity of the individual epitopes.

Acceptation criteria For the in vivo part of the experiment, all mice are evaluated (general welfare document) and weighted at the beginning and end of the study. The acceptance of the in vitro-generated experimental results are based on well-documented viability and positive response after polyclonal stimulation of the cells. Results are shown for the 4 tested HLA- A24 epitopes in the individual mice.

Table 31: immunoreactivity of the embedded epitopes in the 5 animals injected with the nested epitope

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