Instead, it maintains its presence by forming complexes with low-density lipoproteins and other molecules.254 During natural infection, HCV typically exhibits transient replication within individual cells but requires continuous infection of new cells to establish persistent infection.255 HCV produces five proteins associated with oncogenesis: the core protein and four nonstructural proteins (NS3, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B). The gene discussed is KRAS; the disease is infection.