Structural biology of hepatitis C virus.

Structural analyses of hepatitis C virus (HCV) components provide an essential framework for understanding the molecular mechanisms of HCV polyprotein processing, RNA replication, and virion assembly. They are central, moreover, to the elucidation of interactions of HCV proteins with the host cell and may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of hepatitis C. Ultimately, these analyses should allow for identifying novel targets for antiviral intervention and for developing new strategies to prevent and combat viral hepatitis.