The present invention relates to compositions derived from immunoglobulin molecules specific for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). More particularly, the invention is related to molecules which are capable of specifically binding with HCV E2 antigen. The molecules are useful in specific binding assays, affinity purification schemes and pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention and treatment of HCV infection in mammalian subjects. The invention thus relates to novel human monoclonal antibodies specific for HCV E2 antigen, fragments of such monoclonal antibodies, polypeptides having structure and function substantially homologous to antigen-binding sites obtained from such monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides, and expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules.