title: Real-time imaging of hepatitis C virus infection using a fluorescent cell-based reporter system.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which infects 2-3% of the world population, is a causative agent of chronic hepatitis and the leading indication for liver transplantation. The ability to propagate HCV in cell culture (HCVcc) is a relatively recent breakthrough and a key tool in the quest for specific antiviral therapeutics. Monitoring HCV infection in culture generally involves bulk population assays, use of genetically modified viruses and/or terminal processing of potentially precious samples. Here we develop a cell-based fluorescent reporter system that allows sensitive distinction of individual HCV-infected cells in live or fixed samples. We demonstrate use of this technology for several previously intractable applications, including live-cell imaging of viral propagation and host response, as well as visualizing infection of primary hepatocyte cultures. Integration of this reporter with modern image-based analysis methods could open new doors for HCV research.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Catanese
authors.forename: Lok Man J
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Salman R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Khetani
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Syder
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ploss
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schoggins
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Sangeeta N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D013194:Staining and Labeling