Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a significant global health concern, primarily affecting the liver. It can lead to severe liver diseases such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. HCV was first identified in 1989, and since then, extensive research has been conducted to understand its structure, function, and ways to combat the infection .
The NS3 protein of HCV is a nonstructural protein that plays a crucial role in the virus’s life cycle. It is a multifunctional enzyme with protease, helicase, and nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) activities. The NS3 protein is essential for the replication of the viral RNA and the processing of the viral polyprotein .
HCV has several genotypes, with genotype 1 being the most prevalent and studied. Within genotype 1, there are subtypes 1a and 1b. Genotype-1a is particularly significant because it is commonly found in North America and Europe and is associated with a higher rate of resistance to antiviral therapies compared to other genotypes .
The recombinant NS3 protein of HCV genotype-1a, spanning amino acids 1192 to 1459, is a crucial tool for research and diagnostic purposes. This recombinant protein is typically expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques . The region from amino acids 1192 to 1459 includes the immunodominant regions of the NS3 protein, making it highly immunoreactive with sera from HCV-infected individuals .
The recombinant NS3 protein is used in various applications, including: