Anti-HCV C1 - 100 μg

The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) core protein is a fascinating and crucial component of the HCV. It's formed from the first 191 amino acids of the virus's precursor polyprotein and gets inserted directly into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane during its creation. More than just a structural protein, the HCV core protein also actively participates in various cellular processes, including how genes are turned on and off (transcriptional regulation), though the exact mechanisms are still being unraveled. It's believed that the HCV core protein significantly contributes to the development of HCV-related diseases by interacting with various signal transduction pathways within human cells. This protein has also been found circulating in the bloodstream of HCV-infected patients, where it can even inhibit the host's immune response through an interaction with a molecule called gC1qR. In fact, HCV core antigen has recently emerged as a valuable marker for detecting HCV infection. Understanding the Hepatitis C Virus HCV is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family. Its genome is approximately 10,000 nucleotides long and encodes a single large polyprotein of about 3,000 amino acids. This polyprotein is then precisely cut by both host cell and viral enzymes into three main structural proteins (including the core protein) and several non-structural proteins essential for the virus to replicate. HCV is the primary cause of most non-A, non-B hepatitis cases. Unfortunately, a significant number of individuals infected with HCV go on to develop chronic infections, which can lead to severe liver damage, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) . A hallmark of chronic HCV infection is the severe suppression of crucial immune responses, such as T cell responses and interferon-gamma production.