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Hepatitis E Virus Fluorescence Reduction Neutralization Test for Measuring Neutralizing Antibody Titers
Published on: May 22, 2026
The complete sequence of hepatitis E virus genotype 4 reveals an alternative strategy for translation of open reading
1Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.
Abstract:
Isolates of hepatitis E virus (HEV) have recently been described from China that are distinct from Burmese, Mexican and US viruses and constitute a novel genotype (genotype 4). Here, the complete genomic sequence of a representative isolate of genotype 4 HEV, amplified directly from the stool of an acutely infected patient, is presented. Analysis of the entire sequence confirms our previous conclusion, based upon partial sequence data, that these Chinese isolates belong to a novel genotype. Typical of genetic variation in HEV, most nucleotide substitutions occur in the third base of the codon and do not affect the amino acid sequence. The genotype 4 virus is unusual in that a single nucleotide insertion in the ORF 3 region changes the initiation of ORF 3, and perhaps also ORF 2. The consequences of these changes are discussed.
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