Hep C life cycle animation

Summary

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, targeting liver cells (hepatocytes). The virus enters these cells by binding to specific receptors, releasing its RNA into the host. Once inside, HCV hijacks the host cell's machinery to replicate. The viral RNA is translated into a polyprotein, which is processed by both host and viral proteases. A replication complex is formed, enabling the synthesis of new viral RNA. These new virus particles mature in the Golgi apparatus and are released from the host cell, continuing the infection cycle.

Takeaways

• 😀 HCV is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.
• 😀 The virus replicates in hepatocytes (liver cells) and circulates throughout the body.
• 😀 HCV enters hepatocytes through interaction between its viral envelope and host cell receptors.
• 😀 Upon entry, the virus undergoes fusion and uncoating, releasing its positive-strand RNA.
• 😀 HCV utilizes host cell proteins and molecules to replicate its RNA.
• 😀 The viral RNA genome is translated into a polyprotein as the first step of replication.
• 😀 The polyprotein is processed by both host and viral proteases into structural and non-structural proteins.
• 😀 A crucial step in replication involves the interaction of host proteins (e.g., cyclophilin A) with viral proteins (e.g., NS5A and NS5B).
• 😀 This interaction leads to the formation of the replication complex, which is essential for viral RNA synthesis.
• 😀 The replication complex generates a negative strand RNA intermediate, which serves as a template for positive strand RNA synthesis.
• 😀 Newly synthesized viral RNA is packaged into new HCV viruses, which mature in the Golgi apparatus and are released from the host cell via exocytosis.

Q & A

How is Hepatitis C virus (HCV) primarily transmitted?

HCV is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.

Where does HCV replicate in the body?

HCV replicates in the hepatocytes of the liver.

What is the process of HCV entering a host cell?

HCV enters the hepatocyte by interacting with specific receptors on the surface of the host cell, leading to fusion and the release of viral RNA.

What happens after the viral RNA is released inside the host cell?

Once inside, the viral RNA is translated into a polyprotein, which is then processed by both host cell and viral proteases into structural and non-structural proteins.

What role do host cell proteins play in HCV replication?

Host cell proteins interact with viral proteins, such as NS5A and NS5B, to form a replication complex that is essential for the synthesis of new viral RNA.

What is the role of the replication complex in HCV replication?

The replication complex generates a negative-strand RNA intermediate, which serves as a template for the synthesis of positive-strand RNA.

How is new viral RNA synthesized during HCV replication?

A negative-strand RNA intermediate is produced in the replication complex and is used as a template to synthesize positive-strand RNA.

What happens to the newly synthesized viral RNA?

The viral RNA is packaged into new HCV virions, which mature in the Golgi apparatus.

How are mature HCV virions released from the host cell?

The mature HCV virions are released from the host cell via exocytosis.

What is the significance of the NS5A and NS5B proteins in HCV replication?

NS5A and NS5B are essential viral proteins that interact with host proteins to form the replication complex, which is crucial for generating new viral RNA.