HCV-specific CD8+ T cells were collected and sorted (Supplementary Fig. 1) from patients with T1/early self-limited or chronically evolving acute HCV infection immediately after clinical presentation (HCV RNA-positive patients, within one month from the ALT peak; T1/early time-point) and at later stages of resolution (HCV RNA-negative patients, at least 12 months after the ALT peak; T2/late time-point) or chronic evolution of infection (HCV RNA-positive patients, followed for at least one year after the first detection of ALT elevation; T2/late time-point). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is infection.