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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Published on: June 26, 2014
Advances in experimental systems to study hepatitis C virus in vitro and in vivo
Maria Teresa Catanese1, Marcus Dorner2
1Division of Infectious Diseases, King׳s College London, London, United Kingdom.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) research utilizes advanced in vitro and in vivo models for studying infection, host interactions, and developing new treatments and vaccines against this global health threat.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects over 185 million globally, causing liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
- Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) offer a cure but are expensive, and drug resistance is a concern.
- Lack of a protective vaccine necessitates continued research into HCV biology and host interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current in vitro and in vivo experimental systems for studying Hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- To highlight how these models advance understanding of HCV-host interactions, pathogenesis, and immune responses.
- To emphasize the role of these systems in developing novel antiviral therapies and vaccine candidates.
Main Methods:
- Overview of established in vitro systems: subgenomic replicons, HCV pseudotyped particles (HCVpp), and infectious cell culture (HCVcc).
- Discussion of recently developed small animal models permissive to HCV infection.
- Emphasis on the application of these models in drug and vaccine development.
Main Results:
- In vitro models have enabled detailed study of specific HCV life cycle stages and virus-host interactions.
- Infectious HCV culture (HCVcc) systems allow investigation of the full viral life cycle.
- Small animal models provide platforms for in vivo testing of antiviral therapies and vaccine candidates.
Conclusions:
- Available experimental systems, from cell culture to animal models, are crucial for advancing Hepatitis C virus (HCV) research.
- These models are instrumental in understanding HCV pathogenesis, host responses, and in developing effective treatments and preventative vaccines.
- Continued development and utilization of these models are essential for combating the global burden of HCV infection.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a global health concern affecting over 185 million people worldwide. Chronic HCV infection causes liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and is the leading indication for liver transplantation. Recent advances in the field of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) promise a cure for HCV in over 90% of cases that will get access to these expensive treatments. Nevertheless, the lack of a protective vaccine and likely emergence of drug-resistant viral variants call for further studies of HCV biology. With chimpanzees being for a long time the only non-human in vivo model of HCV infection, strong efforts were put into establishing in vitro experimental systems. The initial models only enabled to study specific aspects of the HCV life cycle, such as viral replication with the subgenomic replicon and entry using HCV pseudotyped particles (HCVpp). Subsequent development of protocols to grow infectious HCV particles in cell-culture (HCVcc) ignited investigations on the full cycle of HCV infection and the virus-host interactions required for virus propagation. More recently, small animal models permissive to HCV were generated that allowed in vivo testing of novel antiviral therapies as well as vaccine candidates. This review provides an overview of the currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental systems to study HCV biology. Particular emphasis is given to how these model systems furthered our understanding of virus-host interactions, viral pathogenesis and immunological responses to HCV infection, as well as drug and vaccine development.
