title: Characteristics and Functions of HEV Proteins.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a non-enveloped virus containing a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome of 7.2 kb, which consists of a 5' noncoding region, three open reading frames (ORFs), and a 3' noncoding region. ORF1 is diverse between genotypes and encodes the nonstructural proteins, which include the enzymes needed for virus replication. In addition to its role in virus replication, the function of ORF1 is relevant to viral adaption in cultured cells and may also relate to virus infection and HEV pathogenicity. ORF2 protein is the capsid protein, which is about 660 amino acids in length. It not only protects the integrity of the viral genome but is also involved in many important physiological activities, such as virus assembly, infection, and host interaction. The main immune epitopes, especially neutralizing epitopes, are located on ORF2 protein, which is a candidate antigen for vaccine development. ORF3 protein is a phosphoprotein of 113 or 114 amino acids with a molecular weight of 13 kDa with multiple functions that can also induce strong immune reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Drug and Cosmetics Inspection, Center for Food and Drug Inspection, China Food and Drug Administration, No.11 Fa Hua Nan Li, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100061, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantanxili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Chenyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnosis, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantanxili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Yabin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantanxili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, No. 2 Tiantanxili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100050, China. wangyc@nifdc.org.cn.
authors.forename: Youchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Adaption; Expression; Function; Pathogenicity; Protein; Replication