title: Efficient initiation of HCV RNA replication in cell culture.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem affecting an estimated 170 million individuals worldwide. We report the identification of multiple independent adaptive mutations that cluster in the HCV nonstructural protein NS5A and confer increased replicative ability in vitro. Among these adaptive mutations were a single amino acid substitution that allowed HCV RNA replication in 10% of transfected hepatoma cells and a deletion of 47 amino acids encompassing the interferon (IFN) sensitivity determining region (ISDR). Independent of the ISDR, IFN-alpha rapidly inhibited HCV RNA replication in vitro. This work establishes a robust, cell-based system for genetic and functional analyses of HCV replication.
authors: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110-1093, USA.
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Blight
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Kolykhalov
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Rice
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017354:Point Mutation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012093:Replicon; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase