HAV P2C-P3B

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a significant cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans. It is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, often via contaminated food or water. HAV is a member of the Picornaviridae family and the Hepatovirus genus. The virus is non-enveloped and has a single-stranded RNA genome .

The HAV genome encodes a single polyprotein that is processed into structural and non-structural proteins. The structural proteins include VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4, which form the viral capsid. The non-structural proteins are involved in viral replication and include 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B (also known as VPg), 3C (protease), and 3D (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) .

The P2C protein is a putative NTPase and helicase, playing a crucial role in viral RNA replication. It is involved in membrane association and RNA binding, which are essential for the replication complex . The P3B protein, also known as VPg, is a small protein that is covalently attached to the 5’ end of the viral RNA. It acts as a primer for RNA synthesis during replication .

The recombinant HAV P2C-P3B protein spans the junction of the P2C and P3B proteins, covering amino acids 1492-1606. This recombinant protein is expressed in E. coli and forms one of the immunodominant domains of HAV . The recombinant P2C-P3B protein is used in various immunization protocols to generate antibodies that specifically target this region of the virus .

Recombinant HAV P2C-P3B proteins are valuable tools in vaccine research and serology testing. They are used to study the immune response to HAV infection and to develop diagnostic assays. The high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of these recombinant proteins make them ideal for use in laboratory settings .