YOG kicks off in Nanjing
Colorful life at Youth Olympic Village of Nanjing 2014 YOG
Royal Taoist temple to open to public
Female soldiers at quake-hit area
Shocking photos of cruel battles in Ukraine
Amphibious armored vehicle unit conducts open sea drill
Water relay in Henan
Ethnic culture feasts eyes of travelers
80 security dogs assembled in Nanjing police dog training base
Graffiti artists paint on street walls in Xinjiang
BEIJING, Aug. 28 -- Scientists have successfully infected a lab mouse with chronic hepatitis C, opening doors to better study the virus' effect on humans.
Previously, HCV infections were restricted to humans and chimpanzees, with lab mice, the normal testing subjects for viral research, showing immunity. But a recently published study shows researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) successfully sustained the virus in a lab mouse for almost two years.
The new breakthrough, conducted by a research team led by Chinese scientists Tang Hong and Chen Xinwen, has been published on the Cell Research website.
Previous attempts to replicate HCV in mice failed, with the test subjects either unaffected by the virus or with immune systems quickly overcoming the effects.
Their breakthrough saw a mice infected with HCV successfully replicating the virus, showing sustained viremia and infectivity for nearly two years.
Some 80 percent of the lab mice can be infected persistently and show other typical HCV symptoms, such as fatty liver, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver.
Scientists say the development will open a new way to study the mechanisms of chronic hepatitis C and develop better treatments.
Special holidays
World's top 10 fighters
'Stewardesses' serve in hospital
Beautiful night scenery of Nanjing
‘Peace Mission -2014’ joint anti-terror military exercise kicks off in China
Eye-catching guides at the opening ceremony of YOG in Nanjing
A female missile launch company of PLA
China, the U.S., Britain and the Soviet Union call for Japan's unconditional surrender
The biggest duty-free store of the world
Volunteers bid farewell to YOG
More police dogs join anti-terror campaign in Inner Mongolia
Picturesque Dayilan Manchu village in NE China
Athletes experience the charm of Chinese traditional opera in Nanjing
Contestants for Miss Bikini World experience Chinese traditional cultureDay|Week|Month