Although a cell culture system for HCV JFH-1 strain has been developed, no robust cell culture system for serum-derived HCV is available. In this study, we have established systems capable of monitoring infection with JFH-1 virus based on specific reporter gene expression through proteolysis of chimeric transcription factors by HCV NS3/4A protease. We utilized a transcriptional factor Gal4-TBP that synergistically enhances transcription of the GAL4UAS and HIV-1 LTR tandem promoter with the Tat HCV infects more than 170 million people worldwide, and is a major cause of chronic liver disease, including hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (1). Combination therapy with pegylated IFN and ribavirin List of Abbreviations: cDNA, complementary DNA; DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; FFU, focus-forming units; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; Gal4 DB, Gal4 DNA-binding; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; HA, hemagglutinin; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HCVrv, recombinant VSV enveloped HCV E1 and E2 proteins; HIV-1, human immunodeficiency virus type 1; HO-1, heme oxygenase-1; IFN, interferon; IPS-1, interferon-β promoter stimulator-1; JEV, Japanese encephalitis virus; LNGFR, low affinity nerve growth factor receptor; LTR, long terminal repeat; MAGI, multinuclear activation of a galactosidase indicator; Mβ-CD, methyl-β-cyclodextrin; MOI, multiplicity of infection; PBE buffer, PBS containing 0.5% BSA and 2 mM EDTA; PBS-FBS, PBS containing 2% FBS; P-TEFb, positive transcription elongation factor b; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; RLU, relative luciferase units; SEAP, secretory alkaline phosphatase; S/N, signal-to-noise; TAR, transactivator response region; TBP, TATA-box binding protein; UAS, upstream activating sequence; VSV, vesicular stomatitis virus.has achieved a sustained virological response in 50% of individuals infected with HCV genotype 1 (2). The establishment of cell culture systems using an HCV genotype 2a JFH-1 strain isolated from a patient with fulminant 206