Cell clones selected from the Huh7 human hepatoma cell line support efficient replication of a subgenomic GB virus B replicon.

ABSTRACT: Tamarins (Saguinus species) infected by GB virus B (GBV-B) have recently been proposed as an acceptable surrogate model for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The availability of infectious genomic molecular clones of both viruses will permit chimeric constructs to be tested for viability in animals. Studies in cells with parental and chimeric constructs would also be very useful for both basic research and drug discovery. For this purpose, a convenient host cell type supporting replication of in vitro-transcribed GBV-B RNA should be identified. We constructed a GBV-B subgenomic selectable replicon based on the sequence of a genomic molecular clone proved to sustain infection in tamarins. The corresponding in vitro-transcribed RNA was used to transfect the Huh7 human hepatoma cell line, an

SUBMITTER: De Tomassi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC136363 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature