Acute infection with a single hepatitis C virus strain in dialysis patients: Analysis of adaptive immune response and viral variability.

Background/aims: While the adaptive immune response is crucial for spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, it also constitutes the driving force for viral escape. For acutely HCV-infected dialysis patients, little is known about the host response and its impact on viral evolution.

Methods: Four haemodialysis patients accidentally infected with the same HCV strain were prospectively investigated with respect to the clinical course, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses, neutralizing antibodies, viral kinetics and sequence variability.

Rapid synchronization of hepatitis C virus infection by magnetic adsorption.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into target cells is thought to be a multistep process involving several cellular factors. However, their precise role during virus entry is unclear. Investigation of the mechanisms of HCV entry, such as the order of intervention by the cellular receptors, requires synchronizing infections.

Neutralizing host responses in hepatitis C virus infection target viral entry at postbinding steps and membrane fusion.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide. Viral attachment and entry, representing the first steps of virus-host cell interactions, are major targets of adaptive host cell defenses. The mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization by host neutralizing responses in HCV infection are only poorly understood.

Scavenger receptor class B type I is a key host factor for hepatitis C virus infection required for an entry step closely linked to CD81.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) has been shown to bind HCV envelope glycoprotein E2, participate in entry of HCV pseudotype particles, and modulate HCV infection. However, the functional role of SR-BI for productive HCV infection remains unclear.

Tracking virus-specific CD4+ T cells during and after acute hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: CD4+ T cell help is critical in maintaining antiviral immune responses and such help has been shown to be sustained in acute resolving hepatitis C. In contrast, in evolving chronic hepatitis C CD4+ T cell helper responses appear to be absent or short-lived, using functional assays.

Methodology/principal Findings: Here we used a novel HLA-DR1 tetramer containing a highly targeted CD4+ T cell epitope from the hepatitis C virus non-structural protein 4 to track number and phenotype of hepatitis C virus specific CD4+ T cells in a cohort of seven HLA-DR1 positive patients with acute hepatitis C in comparison to patients with chronic or resolved hepatitis C.