Potential roles of core and core+1 proteins during the chronic phase of hepatitis C virus infection

The HCV Core protein is a multifunctional protein that interacts with many viral and cellular proteins. In addition to the encapsidation of the viral genome, it can disturb various cellular pathways and impede antiviral cellular responses such as interferon (IFN) production. The Core protein can also disrupt the functions of immune cells against HCV. The Core protein helps viral infection persistency by interfering with apoptosis. The Core+1 protein plays a significant role in inducing chronic HCV infection through diverse mechanisms. We review some of the mechanisms by which Core and Core+1 proteins facilitate HCV infection to chronic infection. These proteins could be considered for designing more sufficient treatments and effective vaccines against HCV. Tweetable abstractCore and Core+1 proteins of HCV can interact with many viral and cellular proteins and play significant roles in immune response evasion and chronicity of HCV infection. We review the mechanisms of Core and Core+1 proteins facilitating a chronic HCV infection. Plain language summarySuccessful survival of viruses in their host requires the development of viral immune evasion strategies to overcome the immune responses, and the number of such evasion strategies has increased dramatically. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of the family of Flaviviridae, is one of the causative agents of cirrhosis development and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV can effectively evade host response mechanisms, causing overt damage. The HCV Core protein is a multifunctional protein that interacts with many viral and cellular proteins. It can disturb various cellular pathways and impede antiviral cellular responses such as interferon (IFN) production, disrupting the functions of immune cells and helping viral infection persistency by interfering with apoptosis. Moreover, the Core+1 protein significantly induces chronic HCV infection through diverse mechanisms. We provide a brief review of the mechanisms by which Core and Core+1 proteins facilitate the progression of HCV infection to chronic phase. Highlighting these proteins could attract further attention as potential candidates for designing more effective and efficient drugs and vaccines against HCV.