FIG 6.

The epitope variant gt1b_3 is enriched in HCV genotype 1b isolates from Asia. All available HCV genotype 1b NS3 sequences were retrieved from the public HCV sequence database. Identical sequences and sequences of unknown origin were removed, and additional sequences obtained in Germany and China were added and aligned. A phylogenetic tree was calculated by utilizing the neighbor-joining method and the Jukes-Cantor distance model. Branches were transformed into a cladogram, and sequences from Japan and China are shown in red. Sequences carrying the epitope variant gt1b_3 are indicated by black dots.