[Cloning, sequencing and expression of hepatitis E virus structural gene in E. coli and application of the recombinant products for diagnosis]

Abstract

The prokaryotic expression vector PEGX-3X was used to express hepatitis E virus (HEV) open reading frame 2(ORF2 402-660). The recombinant protein was soluble in PBS buffer and was purified by the glutathione Sepharose 4B affinity column. When the purified recombinant protein was applied to detect HEV antibodies in sera of clinical patients, the results were quite consistent with the HEV diagnostic kit from Diagnostic Biotechnology Ltd(DBL), Singapore. The recombinant protein was more reactive with HEV antibodies than DBL reagent.