Functionally conserved architecture of hepatitis C virus RNA genomes

Functionally conserved architecture of hepatitis C virus RNA genomes.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects over 170 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of liver disease and cancer. The virus has a 9,650-nt, single-stranded, messenger-sense RNA genome that is infectious as an independent entity. The RNA genome has evolved in response to complex selection pressures, including the need to maintain structures that facilitate replication and to avoid clearance ...

Hepatitis C Virus RNA Functionally Sequesters miR-122

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) uniquely requires the liver-specific microRNA-122 for replication, yet global effects on endogenous miRNA targets during infection are unexplored. Here, high-throughput sequencing and crosslinking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) experiments of human Argonaute (AGO) during HCV infection showed robust AGO binding on the HCV 5'UTR at known and predicted miR-122 sites. On th...

Hepatitis C Virus RNA

Hepatitis C virus and skin

Nowadays viral hepatitis is one of the most common and important causes of chronic liver disorders in the world. Extrahepatic manifestations of viral hepatitis consist a main part of the disease. The main viruses causing hepatitis include Hepatitis A, B and C viruses. Herein common skin manifestations in hepatitis C virus (HCV) are discussed. Chronic hepatitis causes skin disorders both directl...

Conserved Motifs within Hepatitis C Virus Envelope (E2) RNA and Protein Independently Inhibit T Cell Activation

T cell receptor (TCR) signaling is required for T-cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, and effector function. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with impaired T-cell function leading to persistent viremia, delayed and inconsistent antibody responses, and mild immune dysfunction. Although multiple factors appear to contribute to T-cell dysfunction, a role for HCV particl...