AKT1 and infection: In support of the assumption that NRG1 and Akt-mediated effects may be beneficial for viral life cycle, treatment of DMSO-primed Huh7.5 cells with NRG1 antagonizing antibodies or with the Akt inhibitor Triciribine prior to infection with the HCVcc strain JC1 (Fig 7A) impedes HCV infection and reduces production of infectious particles.