The yin and yang of hepatitis C: synthesis and decay of hepatitis C virus RNA

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an unusual RNA virus that possesses a striking capacity to persist for life in the majority of infected individuals. In order to persist, HCV must balance viral RNA synthesis and decay in infected cells. In this Review, we focus on interactions between the positive-sense RNA genome of HCV and host RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) that influence the competing processes of viral RNA synthesis and decay to achieve stable, long-term persistence of the viral genome. We discuss how these processes impact HCV pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies against the virus