The invention provides modified hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoproteins comprising the HCV-E2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) including the HVR1, HVR2 and igVR variable regions wherein in at least one of said variable regions at least a part of the variable region is replaced with a flexible linker sequence. The invention also provides vaccine compositions comprising the modified glycoproteins as well as methods of use thereof.