摘要
Dear Editor, Hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection, which causes hepatitis C and can chronically lead to serious and life-threatening dis- eases including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma （Lauer and Walker, 2001）, is a rising global health problem. More than 170 million people are infected by HCV worldwide and 3-4 million people are infected each year. No effective vaccines are available to prevent HCV infection. Moreover, HCV is a fast mutating RNA virus with seven distinct genotypes and many subtypes within each genotype. The high degree of genetic diversity can lead to further viral resistance to the current therapies within individual patients （Li et al., 2012）. Hence, there remains a strong desire in the medical community to explore new therapeutic opportunities.
Dear Editor, Hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection, which causes hepatitis C and can chronically lead to serious and life-threatening dis- eases including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma （Lauer and Walker, 2001）, is a rising global health problem. More than 170 million people are infected by HCV worldwide and 3-4 million people are infected each year. No effective vaccines are available to prevent HCV infection. Moreover, HCV is a fast mutating RNA virus with seven distinct genotypes and many subtypes within each genotype. The high degree of genetic diversity can lead to further viral resistance to the current therapies within individual patients （Li et al., 2012）. Hence, there remains a strong desire in the medical community to explore new therapeutic opportunities.
