The Postbinding Activity of Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I Mediates Initiation of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Viral Dissemination

Abstract

Taken together, our results uncover a crucial role of the SR-BI postbinding function for initiation and maintenance of viral HCV infection that does not require receptor-E2/HDL interactions. The dissection of the molecular mechanisms of SR-BI-mediated HCV entry opens a novel perspective for the design of entry inhibitors interfering specifically with the proviral function of SR-BI.