The role of the hepatitis C virus glycoproteins in infection.

HCV encodes two glycoproteins, E1 and E2, that are believed to be exposed on the surface of virions. These molecules are likely to be involved in viral interactions with the host immune response and responsible for mediating viral entry into target cells. They are obvious major components for prototype vaccine studies. Recently, E2 has been reported to bind to the tetraspan molecule CD81, which represents a putative receptor for HCV. Here, we discuss the role the HCV gps may play during infection, the contribution of E2 gp variation to HCV evasion from the immune response and possible implications of the E2-CD81 interaction for HCV pathogenesis. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.