Structure of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein E2 antigenic site 412 to 423 in complex with antibody AP33.

ABSTRACT

We have determined the crystal structure of the broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) AP33, bound to a peptide corresponding to hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 envelope glycoprotein antigenic site 412 to 423. Comparison with bnAb HCV1 bound to the same epitope reveals a different angle of approach to the antigen by bnAb AP33 and slight variation in its ß-hairpin conformation of the epitope. These structures establish two different modes of binding to E2 that antibodies adopt to neutralize diverse HCV.