Fig. 1

Amplification of HCV structural genes. The core and E1/E2 fragments were visualized at the expected M.wt of ~ 573 and 1665 bp, respectively (A). All the screened recombinant colonies showed the target genes at the expected M.wt (B, C). Three core clones were in the proper orientation for subsequent digestion (D), while only one E1/E2 clone was properly oriented (E). The cloned fragments were released from the PCR vector, and similarly, the expression vector (pQE-Trisystem) was linearized using FastDigest KpnI and NotI restriction enzymes for subsequent ligation and protein expression (F)