Three-Dimensional Architecture and Biogenesis of Membrane Structures Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Authors: Inés Romero-Brey, Andreas Merz, Abhilash Chiramel, Ji-Young Lee, Petr Chlanda, Uta Haselman, Rachel Santarella-Mellwig, Anja Habermann, Simone Hoppe, Stephanie Kallis, Paul Walther, Claude Antony, Jacomine Krijnse-Locker, Ralf Bartenschlager

DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003056

Abstract Summary

Hepatitis C virus replicates within specialized membrane structures called “membranous webs” derived from the endoplasmic reticulum. Researchers used advanced microscopy to reveal these webs consist mainly of double-membrane vesicles that protrude from the ER and correlate with viral replication. Surprisingly, HCV’s replication structures resemble those of distantly related viruses rather than its close relatives.

Why Brain? 🧠

HCV creates unique double-membrane vesicles from ER for viral replication, resembling structures of distantly related viruses, revealing common strategies RNA viruses use to hijack cells.

License: CC BY.

The image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes only. Courtesy of Midjourney.