Patent ID: 8198426

Claim:
An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising an HCV NS5A region that encodes the NS5A region of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the encoded NS5A region is altered by one or more mutations selected from the group consisting of: a) amino acid 2041 being Thr, b) a Lys insertion between amino acid residues 2039 and 2040, c) amino acid 2173 being Phe, d) amino acid 2197 being Phe, e) amino acid 2198 being Ser, and f) amino acid 2204 being Arg, wherein the encoded NS5A region further comprises a Thr at position 2199 and wherein the HCV replicon comprising the mutated NS5A region has increased replication as compared to an HCV replicon comprising an NS5A region without the mutations.