| abstract |
The current invention relates to HCV envelope proteins or parts thereof which are the product of expression in eukaryotic cells. More particularly said HCV envelope proteins are characterized in that on average up to 80 % of their N-glycosylation sites are core-glycosylated. Of these N-glycosylated sites more than 70 % are glycosylated with an oligomannose containing 8 to 10 mannoses. Furthermore, the ratio of the oligomannoses with structure Man(7)-GlcNAc(2) over the oligomannose with structure Man(8)-GlcNAc(2) is less than or equal to 0.45. Less than 10 % of the oligomannoses is terminated with an .alpha.1,3 linked mannose. The HCV envelope proteins of the invention are particularly suited for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. A suitable eukaryotic cell for production of the HCV envelope proteins of the invention is a Hansenula cell. |