The present invention relates to recombinant hepatitis C virus (HCV)-derived
nucleic acids and to stable rapidly growing cell clones derived from human hepatoma
Huh-7 cell line and supporting high titer replication of said recombinant HCV nucleic
acids. The subgenomic HCV replicons and cell clones of the instant invention represent
the in vitro system of choice for studies of HCV propagation, anti-viral drug screening,
and vaccine development.