The Normal Human Hepatocyte Culture System Produces HCV Genotype 1 with a Density of Infectious Virions.

HCV genotype 1 virions were isolated by isopycnic ultracentrifugation through an iodixanol gradient as described in Material and methods from patients' serum , from the human hepatocyte primary infection and from the human hepatocyte secondary infection. The densities below 1.09 g/cm3 consistent with infectious virions, comprised approximately 82% of the patient's serum, 86% of the primary infection, and 90% of the secondary infection. HCV virions in each fraction were assessed by RT-PCR for HCV RNA , as described in Material and methods.