title: Analysis of the putative E1 envelope and NS4a epitope regions of HCV type 3.
abstract: Using a Line Probe Assay, type 3 HCV genotype-infected sera were selected from Brazilian blood donors. The partial nucleotide sequences of the core/E1 and NS4a epitope-containing regions and the NS5b typing region were determined. The E1 region had a nucleic acid homology of only 61 to 65% with the type 1 prototype genomes, and 56 to 58% homology with the type 2 prototype HCV genomes. Similar homologies were also found for the NS4a epitope region and for NS5. Furthermore, the deduced amino acid sequence of type 3 NS4a was used to generate synthetic peptides which were strongly reactive with human HCV-infected sera which were previously determined as anti-NS4 negative, indicating that a type-specific antibody response to the NS4a protein may exist.
authors.affiliation: Innogenetics N.V., Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stuyver
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Arnhem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wyseur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeLeys
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maertens
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D000939:Epitopes; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins