PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lingyao Du
AU  - Hong Tang
TI  - An insight into the molecular characteristics of hepatitis C virus for clinicians
AID  - 10.15537/smj.2016.5.14178
DP  - 2016 May 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 483--491
VI  - 37
IP  - 5
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/37/5/483.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/37/5/483.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2016 May 01; 37
AB  - Hepatitis C virus (HCV) consists of envelope proteins, core proteins, and genome RNA. The structural genes and non-structural genes in the open reading frame of its genome encode functional proteins essential to viral life cycles, ranging from virus attachment to progeny virus secretion. After infection, the host cells suffer damage from virus-induced oxidative stress, steatosis, and activation of proto-oncogenes. Every process during the viral life cycle can be considered as targets for direct acting antivirals. However, protective immunity cannot be easily acquired for the volatility in HCV antigenic epitopes. Understanding its molecular characteristics, especially pathogenesis and targets the drugs act on, not only helps professionals to make optimal therapeutic decisions, but also helps clinicians who do not specialize in infectious diseases/hepatology to provide better management for patients. This review serves to provide an insight for clinicians and this might provide a possible solution for any possible collision.