Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that encode high-yield hepatitis C viruses (HCV) of genotype 1a, 2a or 3a that are useful in the fundamental research of HCV as well as in the search of antivirals and vaccines against HCV. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that comprise HCV, which are capable of expressing the virus when transfected into cells and are capable of replication or infectivity in cultured cells as well as being functional as a vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying whole HCV particles, the method comprising the steps of a) providing a cell culture supernatant comprising virus particles, b) purification and/or concentration of the cell culture supernatant, c) purification and/or concentration of the product of above step b) using steric exclusion chromatography (SXC) at alkaline pH in the range of 8-10, d) purification and/or concentration of the product of the above step c) using sulphated cellulose membrane absorbers (SCMA), e) obtaining whole virus particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of purifying whole HCV particles, the method comprising the steps of a) providing a cell culture supernatant comprising virus particles, b) purification and/or concentration of the cell culture supernatant, c) purification and/or concentration of the product of above step b) using steric exclusion chromatography (SXC) at alkaline pH in the range of 8-10, d) purification and/or concentration of the product of above step c) using sulphated cellulose membrane absorbers (SCMA), e) obtaining purified whole virus particles.