Fig. 1

Schematic representation of cell line development. 293rVLP cells producing non pseudotyped retrovirus like particles (Null VLPs) were transfected with HCV envelope E1 (green) and E2 (brown) proteins coding plasmid and produced HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp), afterwards these cells were silenced for endogenous CD81 generating 293rVLP-HCVpp shCD81 (AEE—After Envelope Expression) (upper panel). In parallel, 293rVLP were silenced for endogenous CD81 expression to produce non-pseudotyped retrovirus like particles deprived from CD81, these cells were then transfected with a plasmid coding HCV envelope proteins generating 293rVLP-HCVpp shCD81 (BEE—Before Envelope Expression) (lower panel)