HCV NS3 Genotype-2b
Description
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a significant global health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. The virus is known for its ability to cause chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Among the various genotypes of HCV, genotype 2b is of particular interest due to its unique characteristics and response to antiviral therapies.
HCV is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus that encodes a single polyprotein. This polyprotein is processed into at least 11 polypeptides, including three structural proteins (core, and envelope proteins E1 and E2), a small polypeptide named p7, the novel F protein, and six nonstructural (NS) proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B) .
The NS3 protein of HCV plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle. It possesses protease, helicase, and NTPase enzymatic activities, making it essential for viral replication . The NS3 protein is a target for antiviral therapies and vaccine development due to its critical functions and conserved nature across different HCV genotypes.
The recombinant NS3 protein, specifically the amino acid sequence 1192-1459, is a truncated form of the NS3 helicase. This region covers the functional part of the NS3 protein and is often used in research and vaccine development . The truncated recombinant NS3 helicase (T1b-rNS3) is expressed in Escherichia coli using vectors such as pET-32a .
HCV genotype 2b is one of the several genotypes of the virus, each with distinct geographical distributions and responses to treatment. Genotype 2b is known for its relatively better response to antiviral therapies compared to other genotypes . The study of genotype 2b, particularly the NS3 protein, is crucial for understanding the virus’s behavior and developing effective treatments.
The NS3 protein, especially the recombinant form covering amino acids 1192-1459, is significant in research due to its role in viral replication and its potential as a vaccine target. Monoclonal antibodies against conserved epitopes within the NS3 helicase have shown promise in inhibiting the virus’s enzymatic activities and could be crucial for developing diagnostic tools and antiviral therapies .
