The present invention relates to new genomic nucleotide sequences and amino acid
sequences corresponding to the coding region of these genomes. The invention relates
to new HCV types and subtypes sequences which are different from the known HCV
types and subtypes. More particularly, the present invention relates to new HCV
type 7 sequences, new HCV type 9 sequences, new HCV type 10 and new HCV type 11
sequences. Also, the present invention relates to new HCV type 1 sequences of subtypes
1d, 1e, 1f and 1g; new HCV type 2 sequences of subtypes 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2I, 2k
and 2l; new HCV type 3 sequences of subtype 3g, new HCV type 4 sequences of subtypes
4k, 4l and 4m; a process for preparing them, and their use for diagnosis, prophylaxis
and therapy. More particularly, the present invention provides new type-specific
sequences of the Core, the E1 and the NS5 regions of new HCV types 7, 9, 10 and
11, as well as of new variants (subtypes) of HCV types 1, 2, 3 and 4. These new
HCV sequences are useful to diagnose the presence of HCV type 1, and/or type 2,
and/or type 3, and/or type 4, and/or type 7, and/or 9, and/or type 10, and/or type
11 genotypes or serotypes in a biological sample. Moreover, the availability of
these new type-specific sequences can increase the overall sensitivity of HCV detection
and should also prove to be useful for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.