CD81 and infection: Here, we have re-addressed the question as to whether HCV infection can activate RIG-I/MAVS before cleavage of MAVS by the NS3/4A protease, by performing kinetics of infection with JFH1 in the newly described JFH1-permissive Huh7.25/CD81 cells, which were manipulated to present a functional RIG-I/MAVS pathway.