Targeting hepatitis C virus translation: stopping HCV where it starts
Jubin, R.
Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs 4(2): 162-167
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1472-4472 PMID: 12669376 Document Number: 556492
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an emerging global health concern. Combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha (INF alpha) and ribavirin results in approximately 60% sustained recovery. Of the non-responders, the majority are infected with genotype 1. As a consequence, improved therapeutics are necessary to enhance response rates, especially in genotype-1-infected individuals. HCV translation is mediated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the 5' non-translated region. Recent studies have revealed that the HCV IRES recruits the cellular translation machinery in a distinct manner compared with cellular mRNA strategies. Therefore, screening assays can be developed to identify specific inhibitors of HCV translation as a possible treatment for HCV.