Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a significant pathogen within the Flaviviridae family, which also includes other notable viruses such as Zika, dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis viruses . TBEV is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that primarily affects the central nervous system, leading to a range of symptoms from mild flu-like illness to severe neurological complications, including encephalitis .
The core protein of TBEV plays a crucial role in the virus’s life cycle. It is involved in the encapsidation of the viral RNA genome, forming the nucleocapsid, which is essential for the protection and delivery of the viral genome into host cells. The core protein also interacts with other viral and host proteins to facilitate viral replication and assembly.
Recombinant proteins are produced through recombinant DNA technology, which involves inserting the gene encoding the protein of interest into an expression system, such as bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells. The recombinant TBEV core protein is produced by expressing the TBEV core protein gene in a suitable host system, allowing for the production of large quantities of the protein for research and diagnostic purposes.