Polymerase chain reaction-mediated cloning and in vitro translation of the genes coding for the structural proteins of hog cholera virus.

After amplification by PCR, the 5' region of the genome of hog cholera virus (HCV) strain Alfort 187 was cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were compared with the ones of other pestiviruses. By in vitro translation experiments we were able to demonstrate the protease activity of the p 20 protein of HCV.