2022
Mild respiratory COVID can cause multi-lineage neural cell and myelin dysregulation
Fernández-Castañeda A, Lu P, Geraghty AC, Song E, Lee MH, Wood J, O'Dea MR, Dutton S, Shamardani K, Nwangwu K, Mancusi R, Yalçın B, Taylor KR, Acosta-Alvarez L, Malacon K, Keough MB, Ni L, Woo PJ, Contreras-Esquivel D, Toland AMS, Gehlhausen JR, Klein J, Takahashi T, Silva J, Israelow B, Lucas C, Mao T, Peña-Hernández MA, Tabachnikova A, Homer RJ, Tabacof L, Tosto-Mancuso J, Breyman E, Kontorovich A, McCarthy D, Quezado M, Vogel H, Hefti MM, Perl DP, Liddelow S, Folkerth R, Putrino D, Nath A, Iwasaki A, Monje M. Mild respiratory COVID can cause multi-lineage neural cell and myelin dysregulation. Cell 2022, 185: 2452-2468.e16. PMID: 35768006, PMCID: PMC9189143, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionMicroglial reactivityCognitive impairmentCSF cytokines/chemokinesCytokines/chemokinesSARS-CoV-2Early time pointsCCL11 levelsMild COVIDRespiratory influenzaHippocampal neurogenesisOligodendrocyte lossHippocampal pathologyMyelin lossNeurological symptomsImpaired neurogenesisCOVID survivorsNeurobiological effectsNeural dysregulationMyelin dysregulationCCL11Neural cellsTime pointsNeurogenesisMiceInflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives COVID-19 pathology
Sefik E, Qu R, Junqueira C, Kaffe E, Mirza H, Zhao J, Brewer JR, Han A, Steach HR, Israelow B, Blackburn HN, Velazquez SE, Chen YG, Halene S, Iwasaki A, Meffre E, Nussenzweig M, Lieberman J, Wilen CB, Kluger Y, Flavell RA. Inflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives COVID-19 pathology. Nature 2022, 606: 585-593. PMID: 35483404, PMCID: PMC9288243, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04802-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammasome activationLung inflammationInflammatory responseInfected macrophagesSARS-CoV-2 infectionHuman macrophagesChronic lung pathologyPersistent lung inflammationSevere COVID-19Immune inflammatory responseInflammatory cytokine productionHumanized mouse modelNLRP3 inflammasome pathwayCOVID-19 pathologyCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Productive viral cycleHyperinflammatory stateChronic stageIL-18Cytokine productionInflammatory cytokinesLung pathologyInflammasome pathwayInterleukin-1Multiscale PHATE identifies multimodal signatures of COVID-19
Kuchroo M, Huang J, Wong P, Grenier JC, Shung D, Tong A, Lucas C, Klein J, Burkhardt DB, Gigante S, Godavarthi A, Rieck B, Israelow B, Simonov M, Mao T, Oh JE, Silva J, Takahashi T, Odio CD, Casanovas-Massana A, Fournier J, Farhadian S, Dela Cruz C, Ko A, Hirn M, Wilson F, Hussin J, Wolf G, Iwasaki A, Krishnaswamy S. Multiscale PHATE identifies multimodal signatures of COVID-19. Nature Biotechnology 2022, 40: 681-691. PMID: 35228707, PMCID: PMC10015653, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01186-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle-cell RNA sequencingTransposase-accessible chromatinSingle-cell sequencingRNA sequencingBiological insightsPopulation groupingsSophisticated computational toolsBiological featuresSequencingFlow cytometryComputational toolsChromatinBiomedical communityDifferent data typesCell responsesCellsPhateHigh-affinity, neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can be made without T follicular helper cells
Chen JS, Chow RD, Song E, Mao T, Israelow B, Kamath K, Bozekowski J, Haynes WA, Filler RB, Menasche BL, Wei J, Alfajaro MM, Song W, Peng L, Carter L, Weinstein JS, Gowthaman U, Chen S, Craft J, Shon JC, Iwasaki A, Wilen CB, Eisenbarth SC. High-affinity, neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can be made without T follicular helper cells. Science Immunology 2022, 7: eabl5652. PMID: 34914544, PMCID: PMC8977051, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abl5652.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionSARS-CoV-2Follicular helper cellsB cell responsesHelper cellsAntibody productionCell responsesSARS-CoV-2 vaccinationB-cell receptor sequencingSevere COVID-19Cell receptor sequencingIndependent antibodiesT cell-B cell interactionsViral inflammationAntiviral antibodiesImmunoglobulin class switchingVirus infectionGerminal centersViral infectionClonal repertoireInfectionAntibodiesClass switchingCOVID-19Patients
2021
A humanized mouse model of chronic COVID-19
Sefik E, Israelow B, Mirza H, Zhao J, Qu R, Kaffe E, Song E, Halene S, Meffre E, Kluger Y, Nussenzweig M, Wilen CB, Iwasaki A, Flavell RA. A humanized mouse model of chronic COVID-19. Nature Biotechnology 2021, 40: 906-920. PMID: 34921308, PMCID: PMC9203605, DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01155-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic COVID-19Humanized mouse modelImmune responseMouse modelAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionSyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionCOVID-19Adaptive human immune responsesInterferon-stimulated gene signaturePersistent viral RNACoronavirus 2 infectionPatient-derived antibodiesT-cell lymphopeniaHuman immune responseHyperactive immune responseCoronavirus disease 2019Inflammatory macrophage responseImmunological injuryLung pathologyCell lymphopeniaDisease 2019Severe diseaseRodent modelsInflammatory macrophagesLongitudinal Immune Profiling of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Reinfection in a Solid Organ Transplant Recipient
Klein J, Brito AF, Trubin P, Lu P, Wong P, Alpert T, Peña-Hernández MA, Haynes W, Kamath K, Liu F, Vogels CBF, Fauver JR, Lucas C, Oh J, Mao T, Silva J, Wyllie AL, Muenker MC, Casanovas-Massana A, Moore AJ, Petrone ME, Kalinich CC, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Ring A, Shon J, Ko AI, Grubaugh ND, Israelow B, Iwasaki A, Azar MM, Team F. Longitudinal Immune Profiling of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Reinfection in a Solid Organ Transplant Recipient. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2021, 225: 374-384. PMID: 34718647, PMCID: PMC8807168, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab553.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfectionLongitudinal immune profilingTransplant recipientsImmune profilingPrimary SARS-CoV-2 infectionCD4 T cell poolMale renal transplant recipientSolid organ transplant recipientsSARS-CoV-2 reinfectionSARS-CoV-2 antibodiesSARS-CoV-2 infectionWhole viral genome sequencingRenal transplant recipientsImmune escape mutationsOrgan transplant recipientsT cell poolTime of reinfectionCoronavirus disease 2019Lower neutralization titersHumoral memory responsesViral genome sequencingInitial diagnosisImmunologic deficiencyHumoral responseImmunologic investigationsReply to: A finding of sex similarities rather than differences in COVID-19 outcomes
Takahashi T, Ellingson MK, Wong P, Israelow B, Lucas C, Klein J, Silva J, Mao T, Oh JE, Tokuyama M, Lu P, Venkataraman A, Park A, Liu F, Meir A, Sun J, Wang EY, Casanovas-Massana A, Wyllie AL, Vogels CBF, Earnest R, Lapidus S, Ott IM, Moore AJ, Shaw A, Fournier JB, Odio CD, Farhadian S, Dela Cruz C, Grubaugh ND, Schulz WL, Ring AM, Ko AI, Omer SB, Iwasaki A. Reply to: A finding of sex similarities rather than differences in COVID-19 outcomes. Nature 2021, 597: e10-e11. PMID: 34552250, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03645-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKynurenic acid may underlie sex-specific immune responses to COVID-19
Cai Y, Kim DJ, Takahashi T, Broadhurst DI, Yan H, Ma S, Rattray NJW, Casanovas-Massana A, Israelow B, Klein J, Lucas C, Mao T, Moore AJ, Muenker MC, Oh JE, Silva J, Wong P, team Y, Ko AI, Khan SA, Iwasaki A, Johnson CH. Kynurenic acid may underlie sex-specific immune responses to COVID-19. Science Signaling 2021, 14: eabf8483. PMID: 34230210, PMCID: PMC8432948, DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abf8483.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKynurenic acidImmune responseClinical outcomesSex-specific immune responsesT cell responsesPoor clinical outcomeCOVID-19 patientsCoronavirus disease 2019COVID-19Sex-related differencesMale patientsCytokine abundanceInflammatory cytokinesKynurenine ratioSerum metabolomeDisease 2019Sex-specific linkKynurenine aminotransferaseCell responsesOld malePatientsMalesOutcomesResponseMetabolitesRapid, reliable, and reproducible cell fusion assay to quantify SARS-Cov-2 spike interaction with hACE2
Zhao M, Su PY, Castro DA, Tripler TN, Hu Y, Cook M, Ko AI, Farhadian SF, Israelow B, Dela Cruz CS, Xiong Y, Sutton RE, Team T. Rapid, reliable, and reproducible cell fusion assay to quantify SARS-Cov-2 spike interaction with hACE2. PLOS Pathogens 2021, 17: e1009683. PMID: 34166473, PMCID: PMC8263067, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009683.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19
Wang EY, Mao T, Klein J, Dai Y, Huck JD, Jaycox JR, Liu F, Zhou T, Israelow B, Wong P, Coppi A, Lucas C, Silva J, Oh JE, Song E, Perotti ES, Zheng NS, Fischer S, Campbell M, Fournier JB, Wyllie AL, Vogels CBF, Ott IM, Kalinich CC, Petrone ME, Watkins AE, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Schulz W, Ma S, Grubaugh N, Ko A, Iwasaki A, Ring A. Diverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19. Nature 2021, 595: 283-288. PMID: 34010947, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03631-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeripheral immune cell compositionSARS-CoV-2 infectionCOVID-19Effects of autoantibodiesTissue-associated antigensSpecific clinical characteristicsInnate immune activationImmune cell compositionCOVID-19 exhibitCOVID-19 manifestsAnalysis of autoantibodiesSARS-CoV-2Functional autoantibodiesMouse surrogateClinical characteristicsVirological controlClinical outcomesImmune activationMild diseaseAsymptomatic infectionAutoantibody reactivityDisease progressionHealthcare workersHigh prevalenceAutoantibodiesDelayed production of neutralizing antibodies correlates with fatal COVID-19
Lucas C, Klein J, Sundaram ME, Liu F, Wong P, Silva J, Mao T, Oh JE, Mohanty S, Huang J, Tokuyama M, Lu P, Venkataraman A, Park A, Israelow B, Vogels CBF, Muenker MC, Chang CH, Casanovas-Massana A, Moore AJ, Zell J, Fournier JB, Wyllie A, Campbell M, Lee A, Chun H, Grubaugh N, Schulz W, Farhadian S, Dela Cruz C, Ring A, Shaw A, Wisnewski A, Yildirim I, Ko A, Omer S, Iwasaki A. Delayed production of neutralizing antibodies correlates with fatal COVID-19. Nature Medicine 2021, 27: 1178-1186. PMID: 33953384, PMCID: PMC8785364, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01355-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDeceased patientsAntibody levelsAntibody responseDisease severityAnti-S IgG levelsCOVID-19 disease outcomesFatal COVID-19Impaired viral controlWorse clinical progressionWorse disease severitySevere COVID-19Length of hospitalizationImmunoglobulin G levelsHumoral immune responseCoronavirus disease 2019COVID-19 mortalityCOVID-19Domain (RBD) IgGSeroconversion kineticsDisease courseIgG levelsClinical parametersClinical progressionHumoral responseDisease onsetNeuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain
Song E, Zhang C, Israelow B, Lu-Culligan A, Prado AV, Skriabine S, Lu P, Weizman OE, Liu F, Dai Y, Szigeti-Buck K, Yasumoto Y, Wang G, Castaldi C, Heltke J, Ng E, Wheeler J, Alfajaro MM, Levavasseur E, Fontes B, Ravindra NG, Van Dijk D, Mane S, Gunel M, Ring A, Kazmi SAJ, Zhang K, Wilen CB, Horvath TL, Plu I, Haik S, Thomas JL, Louvi A, Farhadian SF, Huttner A, Seilhean D, Renier N, Bilguvar K, Iwasaki A. Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2021, 218: e20202135. PMID: 33433624, PMCID: PMC7808299, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202135.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2Central nervous systemSARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasionImmune cell infiltratesCOVID-19 patientsType I interferon responseMultiple organ systemsCOVID-19I interferon responseHuman brain organoidsNeuroinvasive capacityCNS infectionsCell infiltrateNeuronal infectionPathological featuresCortical neuronsRespiratory diseaseDirect infectionCerebrospinal fluidNervous systemMouse brainInterferon responseOrgan systemsHuman ACE2Infection
2020
SalivaDirect: A simplified and flexible platform to enhance SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity
Vogels CBF, Watkins AE, Harden CA, Brackney DE, Shafer J, Wang J, Caraballo C, Kalinich CC, Ott IM, Fauver JR, Kudo E, Lu P, Venkataraman A, Tokuyama M, Moore AJ, Muenker MC, Casanovas-Massana A, Fournier J, Bermejo S, Campbell M, Datta R, Nelson A, Team Y, Anastasio K, Askenase M, Batsu M, Bickerton S, Brower K, Bucklin M, Cahill S, Cao Y, Courchaine E, DeIuliis G, Earnest R, Geng B, Goldman-Israelow B, Handoko R, Khoury-Hanold W, Kim D, Knaggs L, Kuang M, Lapidus S, Lim J, Linehan M, Lu-Culligan A, Martin A, Matos I, McDonald D, Minasyan M, Nakahata M, Naushad N, Nouws J, Obaid A, Odio C, Oh J, Omer S, Park A, Park H, Peng X, Petrone M, Prophet S, Rice T, Rose K, Sewanan L, Sharma L, Shaw A, Shepard D, Smolgovsky M, Sonnert N, Strong Y, Todeasa C, Valdez J, Velazquez S, Vijayakumar P, White E, Yang Y, Dela Cruz C, Ko A, Iwasaki A, Krumholz H, Matheus J, Hui P, Liu C, Farhadian S, Sikka R, Wyllie A, Grubaugh N. SalivaDirect: A simplified and flexible platform to enhance SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity. Med 2020, 2: 263-280.e6. PMID: 33521748, PMCID: PMC7836249, DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2020.12.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEmergency use authorizationSARS-CoV-2 testingSARS-CoV-2 screeningSARS-CoV-2 testing capacitySupply chain shortagesHospital cohortNasopharyngeal swabsHealthy individualsDrug AdministrationHigh positive agreementQRT-PCR assaysDiagnostic testsU.S. FoodSafe reopeningTesting capacityGlobal healthPositive agreementFast GrantLower ratesSalivaNucleic acid extractionSwabsValid alternativeAssay costsCollection tubesDetection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by multiplex RT-qPCR
Kudo E, Israelow B, Vogels CBF, Lu P, Wyllie AL, Tokuyama M, Venkataraman A, Brackney DE, Ott IM, Petrone ME, Earnest R, Lapidus S, Muenker MC, Moore AJ, Casanovas-Massana A, Team Y, Omer SB, Dela Cruz CS, Farhadian SF, Ko AI, Grubaugh ND, Iwasaki A. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by multiplex RT-qPCR. PLOS Biology 2020, 18: e3000867. PMID: 33027248, PMCID: PMC7571696, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBetacoronavirusCase-Control StudiesClinical Laboratory TechniquesCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19COVID-19 TestingDNA PrimersHEK293 CellsHumansLimit of DetectionMultiplex Polymerase Chain ReactionNasopharynxPandemicsPneumonia, ViralReagent Kits, DiagnosticReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionRNA, ViralSARS-CoV-2United StatesConceptsSARS-CoV-2 RNAMultiplex RT-qPCRRT-qPCRSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testingSARS-CoV-2Quantitative reverse transcription PCRCycle threshold valuesReverse transcription-PCRRT-qPCR assaysDisease controlMultiplex RT-qPCR assayTranscription-PCRAssaysSingle assayLow copy numberSex differences in immune responses that underlie COVID-19 disease outcomes
Takahashi T, Ellingson MK, Wong P, Israelow B, Lucas C, Klein J, Silva J, Mao T, Oh JE, Tokuyama M, Lu P, Venkataraman A, Park A, Liu F, Meir A, Sun J, Wang EY, Casanovas-Massana A, Wyllie AL, Vogels CBF, Earnest R, Lapidus S, Ott IM, Moore AJ, Shaw A, Fournier J, Odio C, Farhadian S, Dela Cruz C, Grubaugh N, Schulz W, Ring A, Ko A, Omer S, Iwasaki A. Sex differences in immune responses that underlie COVID-19 disease outcomes. Nature 2020, 588: 315-320. PMID: 32846427, PMCID: PMC7725931, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2700-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInnate immune cytokinesFemale patientsMale patientsImmune cytokinesDisease outcomeImmune responseCOVID-19COVID-19 disease outcomesPoor T cell responsesSARS-CoV-2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirusAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirusSex-based approachModerate COVID-19Sex differencesRobust T cell activationT cell responsesWorse disease progressionWorse disease outcomesHigher plasma levelsNon-classical monocytesCoronavirus disease 2019T cell activationImmunomodulatory medicationsPlasma cytokinesMouse model of SARS-CoV-2 reveals inflammatory role of type I interferon signaling
Israelow B, Song E, Mao T, Lu P, Meir A, Liu F, Alfajaro MM, Wei J, Dong H, Homer RJ, Ring A, Wilen CB, Iwasaki A. Mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 reveals inflammatory role of type I interferon signaling. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2020, 217: e20201241. PMID: 32750141, PMCID: PMC7401025, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201241.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsBetacoronavirusCell Line, TumorCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19DependovirusDisease Models, AnimalFemaleHumansInflammationInterferon Type ILungMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicPandemicsParvoviridae InfectionsPeptidyl-Dipeptidase APneumonia, ViralSARS-CoV-2Signal TransductionVirus ReplicationConceptsSARS-CoV-2Type I interferonMouse modelI interferonRobust SARS-CoV-2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2SARS-CoV-2 infectionRespiratory syndrome coronavirus 2SARS-CoV-2 replicationCOVID-19 patientsSyndrome coronavirus 2Patient-derived virusesSignificant fatality ratePathological findingsInflammatory rolePathological responseEnzyme 2Receptor angiotensinFatality rateVaccine developmentGenetic backgroundViral replicationCoronavirus diseaseMiceLongitudinal analyses reveal immunological misfiring in severe COVID-19
Lucas C, Wong P, Klein J, Castro TBR, Silva J, Sundaram M, Ellingson MK, Mao T, Oh JE, Israelow B, Takahashi T, Tokuyama M, Lu P, Venkataraman A, Park A, Mohanty S, Wang H, Wyllie AL, Vogels CBF, Earnest R, Lapidus S, Ott IM, Moore AJ, Muenker MC, Fournier JB, Campbell M, Odio CD, Casanovas-Massana A, Herbst R, Shaw A, Medzhitov R, Schulz W, Grubaugh N, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Ko A, Omer S, Iwasaki A. Longitudinal analyses reveal immunological misfiring in severe COVID-19. Nature 2020, 584: 463-469. PMID: 32717743, PMCID: PMC7477538, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2588-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSevere COVID-19Moderate COVID-19Immune signaturesDisease outcomeCOVID-19Disease trajectoriesInterleukin-5Early immune signaturesInnate cell lineagesType 2 effectorsT cell numbersPoor clinical outcomeWorse disease outcomesImmune response profileCoronavirus disease 2019Distinct disease trajectoriesCytokine levelsImmunological correlatesImmune profileClinical outcomesEarly elevationImmune profilingIL-13Immunoglobulin EDisease 2019
2017
Hepatitis C Virus Indirectly Disrupts DNA Damage-Induced p53 Responses by Activating Protein Kinase R
Mitchell JK, Midkiff BR, Israelow B, Evans MJ, Lanford RE, Walker CM, Lemon SM, McGivern DR. Hepatitis C Virus Indirectly Disrupts DNA Damage-Induced p53 Responses by Activating Protein Kinase R. MBio 2017, 8: e00121-17. PMID: 28442604, PMCID: PMC5405228, DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00121-17.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusHCV infectionC virusProtein kinase RHCV replicationLiver cancerHost responseHepatocellular carcinogenesisP53 functionHCV protein expressionHCV RNA replicationP53 responseLiver-derived HepG2 cellsDNA damageOncogenic RNA virusesInfectious causesChronic infectionRNA replicationPhosphorylated protein kinase RActivation of p53Viral activationInfectionMicroRNA-122P53-mediated responseP53 inhibition
2014
Hepatitis C virus genetics affects miR-122 requirements and response to miR-122 inhibitors
Israelow B, Mullokandov G, Agudo J, Sourisseau M, Bashir A, Maldonado AY, Dar AC, Brown BD, Evans MJ. Hepatitis C virus genetics affects miR-122 requirements and response to miR-122 inhibitors. Nature Communications 2014, 5: 5408. PMID: 25403145, PMCID: PMC4236719, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6408.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMiR-122Hepatitis C virus replicationRecent clinical trialsC virus replicationMiR-122 inhibitionMiR-122 inhibitorClinical trialsHCV replicationMiR-122 knockdownHCV drugsHCV variantsHCVHCV genomeViral titresVirus replicationNext-generation sequencingTransient inhibitionVirus geneticsViral adaptationViral sequencesInhibitionNucleotide changesSingle nucleotide changePatientsTitresHepG2 cells mount an effective antiviral interferon‐lambda based innate immune response to hepatitis C virus infection
Israelow B, Narbus CM, Sourisseau M, Evans MJ. HepG2 cells mount an effective antiviral interferon‐lambda based innate immune response to hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology 2014, 60: 1170-1179. PMID: 24833036, PMCID: PMC4176518, DOI: 10.1002/hep.27227.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInnate immune responseHCV infectionHuh-7.5 cellsInnate immune systemImmune responseImmune systemAntiviral responseEntire HCV life cycleHepatitis C virus exposurePersistent life-long infectionHepatitis C virus infectionMelanoma differentiation-associated protein 5C virus infectionRobust antiviral responseImportance of IFNHuh-7Retinoic acid-inducible gene IHCV life cycleAcid-inducible gene ILife-long infectionInnate immune antagonistsHepG2 cellsLike receptor pathwayLiver-specific microRNAHCV recognition