Hepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes persistent infection in about 80% of the infected
individuals. The symptoms are initially mild in those persistently infected patients, and it
may take decades before the serious consequences of chronic HCV infection become
apparent. Up to 20% of infected individuals may develop complications, including cirrhosis,
liver failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma [3]. HCV infection is now the leading indication for
liver transplantation in the United States and Europe
