Hepatitis C virus: life cycle in cells, infection and host response, and analysis of molecular markers influencing the outcome of infection and response to therapy. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dustin, L.B.; Bartolini, B.; Capobianchi, M.R.; Pistello, M.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 22:Number 10(2016)
• Page Start: 826
• Page End: 832
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies -- Cell culture-derived HCV -- Direct antiviral agents -- Drug resistance -- Genotype -- Hepatitis C virus -- Host response -- monitoring drug resistance -- Pathogenesis -- Quantitative molecular assays; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2016.08.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health burden accounting for around 170 million chronic infections worldwide. Since its discovery, which dates back to about 30 years ago, many details of the viral genome organization and the astonishing genetic diversity have been unveiled but, owing to the difficulty of culturing HCV in vitro and obtaining fully susceptible yet immunocompetent in vivo models, we are still a long way from the full comprehension of viral life cycle, host cell pathways facilitating or counteracting infection, pathogenetic mechanisms in vivo, and host defences. Here, we illustrate the viral life cycle into cells, describe the interplay between immune and genetic host factors shaping the course of infection, and provide details of the molecular approaches currently used to genotype, monitor replication in vivo, and study the emergence of drug-resistant viral variants.