A cell-based model of HCV-negative-strand RNA replication utilizing a chimeric hepatitis C virus/reporter RNA template.

The inability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to replicate in cell culture has hindered the discovery of antiviral agents against this virus. One of the biggest challenges has been to find a model that allows one to easily and accurately quantify the level of HCV RNA replication that is occurring inside the cell. In an attempt to solve this problem, we have created a plasmid pMJ050 that encodes a chimeric 'HCV-like' RNA that can act as a reporter for HCV RNA replication.