FIG. 2.

Mutations in the core and NS4B proteins of HCV quasispecies from chronically infected animals. HCV RNA was isolated from plasma collected 7 (CH-503) or 5 (CBO609 and CBO603) years after infection with HCV-1/910. cDNA was prepared, and nested PCR primers were used to amplify viral sequences from the core and NS4B genes. PCR products were ligated into plasmids, and multiple molecular clones were sequenced. The C₁₃₁ and NS4B₁₇₂₃ epitopes are boxed. +ive, positive;-ive, negative.