A synthetic peptide based on HAV sequences can induce neutralizing antibodies, suggesting structural homology with poliovirus type 1 despite minimal primary sequence conservation.
Comparative surface feature analyses of the VP1 sequences of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and poliovirus type 1 allowed an alignment of the two sequences and an identification of probable HAV neutralization antigenic sites. A synthetic peptide containing the HAV-specific amino acid sequence of one of these sites induced anti-HAV-neutralizing antibodies. It is concluded that a structural homology exists between the two viruses, despite minimal primary sequence conservation.
Emini et al. (Sun,) studied this question.