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 having a structure defined by Man(8 to 10)-GlcNAc(2).
Furthermore, the ratio of the oligomannose 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.