| abstract |
A new cDNA clone, clone 20E, has been isolated and is characterized as encoding a previously unknown polypeptide antigen recognized by antibodies in the serum of certain patients affected by non-A, non-B hepatitis (HNANB) . The nucleic acid sequence is not represented in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, nor in the human genome. The data collected suggest that the RNA sequence corresponding to clone 20E is contained in the genome of an external infectious agent other than HCV and that this sequence could, therefore, represent an additional etiological agent or a factor contributing to the development of HNANB in humans. The 20E nucleic acid and the corresponding polypeptide as well as the respective variants thereof are useful in various procedures applied to the prevention and diagnosis of HNANB. |