Unique ties between hepatitis C virus replication and intracellular lipids

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 3% of the world's population, establishing a lifelong infection in the majority of cases. The life cycle of HCV is closely tied to the lipid metabolism of liver cells, and lipid droplets have emerged as crucial intracellular organelles that support persistent propagation of viral infection. In this review, we examine recent advances in our understanding of how HCV usurps intracellular lipids to propagate, and highlight unique opportunities for therapeutic intervention.