Hepatitis E virus (HEV)-1 harbouring HEV-4 non-structural protein (ORF1) replicates in transfected porcine kidney cells.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a causative agent of acute hepatitis and a major public health problem in India. There are four mammalian HEV genotypes worldwide. In India, genotype 1 (HEV-1) is restricted to humans whereas genotype 4 (HEV-4) circulates in pigs.

Analysis of antiviral response in human epithelial cells infected with hepatitis E virus.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis in developing nations and occurs in sporadic and epidemic forms. The disease may become severe with high mortality (20%) among pregnant women. Due to lack of efficient cell culture system and small animal model, early molecular events of HEV infection are not yet known.

Detection of negative-sense RNA in packaged hepatitis E virions by use of an improved strand-specific reverse transcription-PCR method.

Current hepatitis E virus (HEV) negative-sense RNA detection assays have the drawback of false positivity. cDNA synthesis using tag-based primer and Superscript RT-III followed by exonuclease I treatment increased the specificity. Assays could detect as few as 10 copies of negative-sense RNA and could be used in detecting low levels of HEV replication in cells.