SDC1 and infection: Previous studies have identified a subset of junction proteins and receptor molecules involved in HCV cell–cell transmission, such as tetraspanin CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I (SR‐BI), claudin‐1 (CLDN1), occluding (OCLN), syndecan (SDC)‐1, SDC‐2, low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain‐containing protein 1 (TIM‐1).[5, 6] However, these molecules also play equally crucial roles in cell‐free infection.