A nucleic acid having a first nucleotide sequence encoding an infectious hepatitis C virus, a second nucleotide sequence encoding a ribozyme, and an inducible promoter operably linked to the first and second nucleotide sequences, the ribozyme being configured to remove a 3' sequence unnecessary for replication of the infectious hepatitis C virus from a transcript initiated by the inducible, is described. A cell containing the nucleic acid and methods of using the cell are also described.