The Hepatitis C Virus Alternate Reading Frame (ARF) and Its Family of Novel Products: The Alternate Reading Frame Protein/F-Protein, the Double-Frameshift Protein, and Others

Abstract excerpt

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) has an alternate reading frame (ARF) that overlaps the core protein gene. The overlapping reading frame distinguishes HCV from all of its known viral relatives, with the possible exception of GB virus B (GBV-B). The ARF is expressed during natural HCV infections and stimulates specific immune responses. Like several essential genes in other viruses (e.g., the human immunodeficiency...