The 59GS region of JV is highly divergent compared to other noroviruses, mainly due to the relatively high cytosine content (32%), which contributes to an overall G/C content of 58%. There are many polypyrimidine tracts within the sequence, potentially yielding a relatively high degree of RNA secondary structure. Previous studies have described potential secondary RNA structure and interaction with proteins involved with IRESmediated translation within the 59 genomic region of Norwalk virus [18, 24] . It was of interest therefore, based on these findings, to ascertain whether or not the 59GS of JV possessed IRES-like properties within the context of a 'Bi-cistronic' expression system, independently of other viral proteins, including the VPg which, in other caliciviruses, has been shown to be associated with translation initiation factors [25, 26] .