Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleic acid composition comprising or consisting of at least one polynucleic acid containing 8 or more contiguous nucleotides corresponding to a nucleotide sequence from the region spanning positions 417 to 957 of the Core/E1 region of HCV type 3; and/or the region spanning positions 4664 to 4730 of the NS3 region of HCV type 3; and/or the region spanning positions 4892 to 5292 of the NS3/4 region of HCV type 3; and/or the region spanning positions 8 023 to 8 235 of the NS5 region of the BR36 subgroup of HCV type 3a; and/or the coding region of HCV type 4a starting at nucleotide 379 in the core region; and/or the coding region of HCV type 4; and/or the coding region of HCV type 5, with said nucleotide numbering being with respect to the numbering of HCV nucleic acids as shown in Table 1, and with said polynucleic acids containing at least one nucleotide difference with known HCV type 1, and/or HCV type 2 genomes in the above-indicated regions, or the complement thereof.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and compositions useful in diagnosing and treating hepatic disorders, especially those characterized by inflammation. The method comprises administration of an agent which prevents the interaction of MAdCAM with a MAdCAM binding partner or ligand. These compositions are useful in treating diseases or disorders involving ?4?7/MAdCAM blockade, as well as inhibiting a primary event in the inflammatory response such as blocking interactions between intercellular adhesion molecules and their ligands. Disorders treatable using the methods disclosed herein include infections, especially viral infections, iatrogenic disorders, cholestatic disorders, hereditary disorders, sarcoidosis, organ transplant, and the like. The diagnostic methods of the invention can be employed to detect the presence of a disorder or to monitor the course of therapy used to treat the disorder.