Importantly, similar results were obtained when core versus core-NS2 proteins were expressed in naive Huh7.5 cells (i.e., in the absence of SGR-mediated expression of NS3-NS5B proteins and HCV RNAs) (Fig. 5C and D), thus confirming that core expression alone is sufficient to redistribute Nup98 within cells and that neither alternative viral factors nor virus-induced cellular modifications (e.g., membrane remodeling induced by infection or SGR expression) (20, 21) influence core-mediated Nup98 relocalization. This evidence concerns the gene NUP98 and infection.