scholarly journals Extracellular Interactions between Hepatitis C Virus and Secreted Apolipoprotein E

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihua Li ◽  
Yadong Li ◽  
Yanwei Bi ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Yufeng Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Apolipoprotein E ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Envelope Proteins ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Dose Dependent

ABSTRACT Interactions between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and lipoproteins in humans play an important role in the efficient establishment of chronic infection. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) on the HCV envelope mediates virus attachment to host cells as well as immune evasion. This interaction is thought to occur in hepatocytes, as ApoE plays dual functions in HCV assembly and maturation as well as cell attachment. In the present study, we found that secreted ApoE (sApoE) can also bind to viral particles via its C-terminal domain after HCV is released from the cell. Furthermore, the binding affinity of interactions between the sApoE N terminus and cell surface receptors affected HCV infectivity in a dose-dependent manner. The extracellular binding of sApoE to HCV is dependent on HCV envelope proteins, and recombinant HCV envelope proteins are also able to bind to sApoE. These results suggest that extracellular interactions between HCV and sApoE may potentially complicate vaccine development and studies of viral pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE End-stage liver disease caused by chronic HCV infection remains a clinical challenge, and there is an urgent need for a prophylactic method of controlling HCV infection. Because host immunity against HCV is poorly understood, additional investigations of host-virus interactions in the context of HCV are important. HCV is primarily transmitted through blood, which is rich in lipoproteins. Therefore, it is of interest to further determine how HCV interacts with lipoproteins in human blood. In this study, we found that secreted ApoE (sApoE), an exchangeable component found in lipoproteins, participates in extracellular interactions with HCV virions. More significantly, different variants of sApoE differentially affect HCV infection efficiency in a dose-dependent manner. These findings provide greater insight into HCV infection and host immunity and could help propel the development of new strategies for preventing HCV infection.

scholarly journals Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus Interaction with Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 3846-3858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Xu ◽  
Pierre Martinez ◽  
Karin Séron ◽  
Guangxiang Luo ◽  
Fabrice Allain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Apolipoprotein E ◽  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Envelope Glycoproteins ◽  
Length Unit

ABSTRACTHepatitis C virus (HCV) entry involves binding to cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) structures. However, due to the lipoprotein-like structure of HCV, the exact contribution of virion components to this interaction remains controversial. Here, we investigated the relative contribution of HCV envelope proteins and apolipoprotein E in the HS-binding step. Deletion of hypervariable region 1, a region previously proposed to be involved in HS binding, did not alter HCV virion binding to HS, indicating that this region is not involved in this interaction in the context of a viral infection. Patient sera and monoclonal antibodies recognizing different regions of HCV envelope glycoproteins were also used in a pulldown assay with beads coated with heparin, a close HS structural homologue. Although isolated HCV envelope glycoproteins could interact with heparin, none of these antibodies was able to interfere with the virion-heparin interaction, strongly suggesting that at the virion surface, HCV envelope glycoproteins are not accessible for HS binding. In contrast, results from kinetic studies, heparin pulldown experiments, and inhibition experiments with anti-apolipoprotein E antibodies indicated that this apolipoprotein plays a major role in HCV-HS interaction. Finally, characterization of the HS structural determinants required for HCV infection by silencing of the enzymes involved in the HS biosynthesis pathway and by competition with modified heparin indicated thatN- and 6-O-sulfation but not 2-O-sulfation is required for HCV infection and that the minimum HS oligosaccharide length required for HCV infection is a decasaccharide. Together, these data indicate that HCV hijacks apolipoprotein E to initiate its interaction with specific HS structures.IMPORTANCEHepatitis C is a global health problem. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 130 million individuals worldwide, with the majority of cases remaining undiagnosed and untreated. In most infected individuals, the virus evades the immune system and establishes a chronic infection. As a consequence, hepatitis C is the leading cause of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation. Virus infection is initiated by entry of the virus into the host cell. In this study, we provide new insights into the viral and cellular determinants involved in the first step of HCV entry, the binding of the virus to host cells. We show that apolipoprotein E is likely responsible for virus binding to heparan sulfate and thatN- and 6-O-sulfation of the heparan sulfate proteoglycans is required for HCV infection. In addition, the minimal HS length unit required for HCV infection is a decasaccharide.

scholarly journals Theaflavins, polyphenols of black tea, inhibit entry of hepatitis C virus

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pritom Chowdhury ◽  
Marie-Emmanuelle Sahuc ◽  
Yves Rouillé ◽  
Alexandre Vandeputte ◽  
Priscille Brodin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Black Tea ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Entry Inhibitors ◽  
Substantial Progress ◽  
Combination Study ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Dose Dependent

AbstractThe treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by combination of direct acting antivirals (DAA), with different mode of action, has made substantial progress in the past few years. However, appearance of resistance and high cost of the therapy is still an obstacle in the achievement of the therapy, more specifically in developing countries. In this context, search for affordable antivirals with new mechanisms of action is still needed. Tea, after water, is the most popular drink worldwide. Polyphenols extracted from green tea have already shown anti-HCV activity as entry inhibitors. Here, three different theaflavins, theaflavin (TF1), theaflavin-3’-monogallate (TF2), and theaflavin-3-3’-digallate (TF3), which are major polyphenols from black tea, were tested against HCV in cell culture. The results showed that all theaflavins inhibit HCV infection in a dose-dependent manner in an early step of infection. Results obtained with HCV pseudotyped virions confirmed their activity on HCV entry and demonstrated their pan-genotypic action. No effect on HCV replication was observed by using HCV replicon. Investigation on the mechanism of action of black tea theaflavins showed that they act directly on the virus particle and are able to inhibit cell-to-cell spread. Combination study with inhibitors most widely used in anti-HCV treatment regimen demonstrated that TF3 exerts additive effect. In conclusion, theaflavins, that are present in high quantity in black tea, are new inhibitors of HCV entry and hold promise for developing in therapeutic arsenal for HCV infection.

scholarly journals MK-571, a Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1 Antagonist, Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus Replication

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Ruiz ◽  
Quentin Nevers ◽  
Eva Hernández ◽  
Nazim Ahnou ◽  
Rozenn Brillet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatoma Cell ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cysteinyl Leukotriene ◽  
Leukotriene Receptor ◽  
Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Rna Levels

ABSTRACT The quinoline MK-571 is the most commonly used inhibitor of multidrug resistance protein-1 (MRP-1) but was originally developed as a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLTR1) antagonist. While studying the modulatory effect of MRP-1 on anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) direct-acting antiviral (DAA) efficiency, we observed an unexpected anti-HCV effect of compound MK-571 alone. This anti-HCV activity was characterized in Huh7.5 cells stably harboring a subgenomic genotype 1b replicon. A dose-dependent decrease of HCV RNA levels was observed upon MK-571 administration, with a 50% effective concentration (EC50 ± standard deviation) of 9 ± 0.3 μM and a maximum HCV RNA level reduction of approximatively 1 log10. MK-571 also reduced the replication of the HCV full-length J6/JFH1 model in a dose-dependent manner. However, probenecid and apigenin homodimer (APN), two specific inhibitors of MRP-1, had no effect on HCV replication. In contrast, the CysLTR1 antagonist SR2640 increased HCV-subgenomic replicon (SGR) RNA levels in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximum increase of 10-fold. In addition, a combination of natural CysLTR1 agonist (LTD4) or antagonists (zafirlukast, cinalukast, and SR2640) with MK-571 completely reversed its antiviral effect, suggesting its anti-HCV activity is related to CysLTR1 rather to MRP-1 inhibition. In conclusion, we showed that MK-571 inhibits HCV replication in hepatoma cell cultures by acting as a CysLTR1 receptor antagonist, thus unraveling a new host-virus interaction in the HCV life cycle.

scholarly journals The Level of CD81 Cell Surface Expression Is a Key Determinant for Productive Entry of Hepatitis C Virus into Host Cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 588-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Koutsoudakis ◽  
Eva Herrmann ◽  
Stephanie Kallis ◽  
Ralf Bartenschlager ◽  
Thomas Pietschmann
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Productive Infection ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Type I ◽  
Cell Clones

ABSTRACT Recently a cell culture model supporting the complete life cycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was developed. Searching for host cell determinants involved in the HCV replication cycle, we evaluated the efficiency of virus propagation in different Huh-7-derived cell clones. We found that Huh-7.5 cells and Huh7-Lunet cells, two former replicon cell clones that had been generated by removal of an HCV replicon by inhibitor treatment, supported comparable levels of RNA replication and particle production, whereas virus spread was severely impaired in the latter cells. Analysis of cell surface expression of CD81 and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), two molecules previously implicated in HCV entry, revealed similar expression levels for SR-BI, while CD81 surface expression was much higher on Huh-7.5 cells than on Huh7-Lunet cells. Ectopic expression of CD81 in Huh7-Lunet cells conferred permissiveness for HCV infection to a level comparable to that for Huh-7.5 cells. Modulation of CD81 cell surface density in Huh-7.5 cells by RNA interference indicated that a certain amount of this molecule (∼7 × 104 molecules per cell) is required for productive infection with a low dose of HCV. Consistent with this, we show that susceptibility to HCV infection depends on a critical quantity of CD81 molecules. While infection is restricted in cells expressing very small amounts of CD81, susceptibility rapidly rises within a narrow range of CD81 levels, reaching a plateau where higher expression does not further increase the efficiency of infection. Together these data indicate that a high density of cell surface-exposed CD81 is a key determinant for productive HCV entry into host cells.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C Virus Attenuates Mitochondrial Lipid β-Oxidation by Downregulating Mitochondrial Trifunctional-Protein Expression

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (8) ◽  
pp. 4092-4101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Amako ◽  
Tsubasa Munakata ◽  
Michinori Kohara ◽  
Aleem Siddiqui ◽  
Chris Peers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Persistent Infection ◽  
Liver Steatosis ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Mitochondrial Lipid ◽  
Mitochondrial Trifunctional Protein

ABSTRACTThe course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and disease progression involves alterations in lipid metabolism, leading to symptoms such as hypocholesterolemia and steatosis. Steatosis can be induced by multiple mechanisms, including increases in lipid biosynthesis and uptake, impaired lipoprotein secretion, and/or attenuation of lipid β-oxidation. However, little is known about the effects of HCV on lipid β-oxidation. A previous proteomics study revealed that HCV interacted with both the α- and β-subunits of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP), an enzyme complex which catalyzes the last 3 steps of mitochondrial lipid β-oxidation for cellular energy production. Here we show that in HCV-infected Huh7.5 cells, lipid β-oxidation was significantly attenuated. Consistently with this, MTP protein and mRNA levels were suppressed by HCV infection. A loss-of-function study showed that MTP depletion rendered cells less responsive to alpha interferon (IFN-α) treatment by impairing IFN-stimulated gene expression. These aspects of host-virus interaction explain how HCV alters host energy homeostasis and how it may also contribute to the establishment of persistent infection in the liver.IMPORTANCEHCV infection triggers metabolic alterations, which lead to significant disease outcomes, such as fatty liver (steatosis). This study revealed that HCV impairs mitochondrial lipid β-oxidation, which results in low lipid combustion. On the other hand, the HCV-induced defects in metabolic status played an important role in the control of the type I interferon system. Under the conditions of impaired lipid β-oxidation, host cells were less responsive to the ability of exogenously added IFN-α to suppress HCV replication. This suggests that interference with lipid β-oxidation may assist the virus in the establishment of a long-term, persistent infection. Further understanding of this aspect of virus-host interaction may lead to improvements in the current standard therapy.

scholarly journals N-Myc Downstream-Regulated Gene 1 Restricts Hepatitis C Virus Propagation by Regulating Lipid Droplet Biogenesis and Viral Assembly

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Schweitzer ◽  
Fang Zhang ◽  
Audrey Boyer ◽  
Kristin Valdez ◽  
Maggie Cam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Liver Cancer ◽  
Lipid Droplet ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Viral Assembly ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Virus Propagation

ABSTRACT Host cells harbor various intrinsic mechanisms to restrict viral infections as a first line of antiviral defense. Viruses have evolved various countermeasures against these antiviral mechanisms. Here we show that N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) limits productive hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by inhibiting viral assembly. Interestingly, HCV infection downregulates NDRG1 protein and mRNA expression. The loss of NDRG1 increases the size and number of lipid droplets, which are the sites of HCV assembly. HCV suppresses NDRG1 expression by upregulating MYC, which directly inhibits the transcription of NDRG1. The upregulation of MYC also leads to the reduced expression of the NDRG1-specific kinase serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), resulting in a markedly diminished phosphorylation of NDRG1. The knockdown of MYC during HCV infection rescues NDRG1 expression and phosphorylation, suggesting that MYC regulates NDRG1 at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. Overall, our results suggest that NDRG1 restricts HCV assembly by limiting lipid droplet formation. HCV counteracts this intrinsic antiviral mechanism by downregulating NDRG1 via a MYC-dependent mechanism. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped single-stranded RNA virus that targets hepatocytes in the liver. HCV is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and estimates suggest a global prevalence of 2.35%. Up to 80% of acutely infected individuals will develop chronic infection, and as many as 5% eventually progress to liver cancer. An understanding of the mechanisms behind virus-host interactions and viral carcinogenesis is still lacking. The significance of our research is that it identifies a previously unknown relationship between HCV and a known tumor-associated gene. Furthermore, our data point to a new role for this gene in the liver and in lipid metabolism. Thus, HCV infection serves as a great biological model to advance our knowledge of liver functions and the development of liver cancer.

scholarly journals Neglected but Important Role of Apolipoprotein E Exchange in Hepatitis C Virus Infection

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (21) ◽  
pp. 9632-9643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaili Yang ◽  
Xiaoning Wang ◽  
Xiumei Chi ◽  
Fanfan Zhao ◽  
Jinxu Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Apolipoprotein E ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Apoe Level ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Apoe Expression

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, infecting approximately 170 million people worldwide. HCV assembly is tightly associated with the lipoprotein pathway. Exchangeable apolipoprotein E (apoE) is incorporated on infectious HCV virions and is important for infectious HCV virion morphogenesis and entry. Moreover, the virion apoE level is positively correlated with its ability to escape E2 antibody neutralization. However, the role of apoE exchange in the HCV life cycle is unclear. In this study, the relationship between apoE expression and cell permissiveness to HCV infection was assessed by infecting apoE knockdown and derived apoE rescue cell lines with HCV. Exchange of apoE between lipoproteins and HCV lipoviral particles (LVPs) was evaluated by immunoprecipitation, infectivity testing, and viral genome quantification. Cell and heparin column binding assays were applied to determine the attachment efficiency of LVPs with different levels of incorporated apoE. The results showed that cell permissiveness for HCV infection was determined by exogenous apoE-associated lipoproteins. Furthermore, apoE exchange did occur between HCV LVPs and lipoproteins, which was important to maintain a high apoE level on LVPs. Lipid-free apoE was capable of enhancing HCV infectivity for apoE knockdown cells but not apoE rescue cells. A higher apoE level on LVPs conferred more efficient LVP attachment to both the cell surface and heparin beads. This study revealed that exogenous apoE-incorporating lipoproteins from uninfected hepatocytes safeguarded the apoE level of LVPs for more efficient attachment during HCV infection. IMPORTANCE In this study, a neglected but important role of apoE exchange in HCV LVP infectivity after virus assembly and release was identified. The data indicated that apoE expression level in uninfected cells is important for high permissiveness to HCV infection. Secreted apoE-associated lipoprotein specifically enhances infection of HCV LVPs. apoE exchange between HCV LVP and lipoproteins is important to maintain an adequate apoE level on LVPs for their efficient attachment to cell surface. These data defined for the first time an extracellular role of exchangeable apoE in HCV infection and suggested that exchangeable apolipoproteins reach a natural equilibrium between HCV LVPs and lipoprotein particles, which provides a new perspective to the understanding of the heterogeneity of HCV LVPs in composition.

scholarly journals Cross-Genotype Immunity to Hepatitis C Virus

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 1575-1581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Lanford ◽  
Bernadette Guerra ◽  
Deborah Chavez ◽  
Catherine Bigger ◽  
Kathleen M. Brasky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Primary Infection ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Amino Acid Level ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Interferon Response ◽  
Genotype 4 ◽  
Interferon Stimulated Genes

ABSTRACT Recent studies in humans and chimpanzees suggest that immunity can be induced to diminish the incidence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the immunity that promotes viral recovery is poorly understood, and whether the breadth of this adaptive immunity is sufficient to overcome the substantial intergenotype antigenic diversity represents a final obstacle to demonstrating the feasibility of vaccine development. Here we demonstrate that recovery from a genotype 1 HCV infection protects chimpanzees against infection with representatives of other genotypes that exhibit up to 30% divergence at the amino acid level, including challenges with genotype 4, a mixture of genotypes 2 and 3, and a complex inoculum containing genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4. In each instance, the level and duration of viremia were markedly reduced in comparison to the primary infection in the same animal. The data indicate that epitopes conserved between genotypes must play an essential role in immunity. The inocula used in the rechallenge studies induced typical primary infection profiles in naïve chimpanzees. Rechallenge infections were associated with rapid increases in the intrahepatic transcripts of interferon-stimulated genes, even in animals exhibiting apparent sterilizing immunity. Protective immunity was often associated with an early increase in gamma interferon transcripts in the liver and increases in intrahepatic transcripts of Mig, a T-cell chemokine that is a gamma interferon response gene. These studies are the first to show that cross-genotype immunity can be induced to HCV, demonstrating the feasibility of developing a vaccine protective against all HCV strains.

The dynamics of hepatitis C virus binding to platelets and 2 mononuclear cell lines

Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
pp. 2293-2300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Hamaia ◽  
Chengyao Li ◽  
Jean-Pierre Allain
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mononuclear Cell ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
U937 Cells ◽  
Viral Binding ◽  
Intact Virus ◽  
Dose Dependent

Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) binds to platelets in chronically infected patients where free HCV constitutes only about 5% of total circulating virus. Free HCV preferentially binds to human mononuclear cell lines but free and complexed virus binds equally to platelets. The extent of free HCV binding to human Molt-4 T cells (which express CD81) and to human promonocytic U937 cells or to platelets (which do not express CD81) was similar. The binding of free HCV to the cell lines was saturated at a virus dose of 1 IU HCV RNA per cell but binding to platelets was not saturable. Human anti-HCV IgG, but not anti-CD81, markedly inhibited HCV binding to target cells in a dose-dependent manner. Human antibodies to HCV hypervariable region 1 of E2 glycoprotein partially inhibited viral binding to target cells. Recombinant E2 also inhibited viral binding to target cells in a dose-dependent manner, with the efficacy of this decreasing in the rank order of Molt-4 cells more than U937 cells more than platelets. In contrast to HCV, recombinant E2 bound to Molt-4 cells to an extent markedly greater than that apparent with U937 cells or platelets. These results suggest that the binding of HCV to blood cells is mediated by multiple cell surface receptors and that recombinant E2 binding may not be representative of the interaction of the intact virus with target cells.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Infection by DNA Aptamer against Envelope Protein

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (10) ◽  
pp. 4937-4944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darong Yang ◽  
Xianghe Meng ◽  
Qinqin Yu ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
Ying Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Envelope Protein ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Dna Aptamer ◽  
Virus Binding ◽  
Therapeutic Drugs ◽  
Replicon Cell Line ◽  
Selective Evolution

ABSTRACTHepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein (E1E2) is essential for virus binding to host cells. Aptamers have been demonstrated to have strong promising applications in drug development. In the current study, a cDNA fragment encoding the entire E1E2 gene of HCV was cloned. E1E2 protein was expressed and purified. Aptamers for E1E2 were selected by the method of selective evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), and the antiviral actions of the aptamers were examined. The mechanism of their antiviral activity was investigated. The data show that selected aptamers for E1E2 specifically recognize the recombinant E1E2 protein and E1E2 protein from HCV-infected cells. CD81 protein blocks the binding of aptamer E1E2-6 to E1E2 protein. Aptamers against E1E2 inhibit HCV infection in an infectious cell culture system although they have no effect on HCV replication in a replicon cell line. Beta interferon (IFN-β) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) are not induced in virus-infected hepatocytes with aptamer treatment, suggesting that E1E2-specific aptamers do not induce innate immunity. E2 protein is essential for the inhibition of HCV infection by aptamer E1E2-6, and the aptamer binding sites are located in E2. Q412R within E1E2 is the major resistance substitution identified. The data indicate that an aptamer against E1E2 exerts its antiviral effects through inhibition of virus binding to host cells. Aptamers against E1E2 can be used with envelope protein to understand the mechanisms of HCV entry and fusion. The aptamers may hold promise for development as therapeutic drugs for hepatitis C patients.

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