Interaction between hepatitis C virus and lipoproteins and its role for infection and viral persistence (A06)

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Fifty to 90% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections take a chronic course. The association of the virus with lipoproteins may contribute to persistence via a direct influence on virus entry into liver cells and in addition through protection from antibodies. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphisms are associated with a different course of HCV infection. Therefore, we elucidate the mechanisms that mediate HCV lipoprotein interaction, we dissect the role of virus-associated lipoproteins for HCV cell entry and we investigate the variability of HCV lipoprotein interaction in vivo. These goals aim at analysing viral and host factors that mediate association with lipoproteins and to define their role for virus persistence.