Fig. 1

a Orgnaization of the HEV genome. b A schematic diagram of genotype 3 HEV replicon (pSHEV3-Rluc) and genotype 4 HEV replicon (TW6196E-Rluc). The ORFs and reporter gene hRluc were labeled and showed as boxes. The location of recognition sites of restriction enzymes used for the insertion of hRluc and linearization of replicons were marked on the top of the boxes (pSHEV3-Rluc) and bottom of boxes (TW6196E-Rluc), respectively. c The location of mutations on HEV Rluc replicons. The ORF1 was labeled on the top of the box, and the putative ORF1 domains were indicated inside the box. Met, methyltransferase; Y, Y domain; P, a papain-like cysteine protease; X, macro domain; Hel, helicase; RdRp, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The amino acid substitutions were labeled as the amino acid residue position (corresponds to the position in genotype 3 HEV strain “US2”) below the ORF1. The Rluc and partial ORF2 were labeled inside boxes. d A summary of the HEV mutant Rluc replicons. +: indicates that the mutation created in the replicon