Fig. 8

HLCs supported entire HCVcc and HCVser life cycle. Uninfected HLC (a) or HLCs infected with HCVcc (JFH-1) or HCVser (genotype 1a) were observed for CPE and cytoplasmic aberrations (b, c). Uninfected HLCs (d), or HLCs after the infection for 14 d were investigated for HCV non-structural proteins, e.g., zinc-binding phosphoprotein (NS5A) (e), viral RNA polymerase (NS5B) (f), viral protease enzyme (NS3) (g) and the HCV structural protein (core antigen) (h). The intracellular negative-strand RNA represented the HCV replication (i). The intracellular positive-strand RNA level represented HCV entry and production (j). HCVser viral load (k) and intracellular RNA (l) in Huh7 and HLCs after natural HCV infection were monitored. The infectivity titers of HCVcc (m) and HCVser (n) were examine using fluorescent focus forming units (FFU/mL); while the intracellular HCV RNA was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (RNA log copies/μg of total RNA)