en Infectious disease (Molecular and Cellular aspects) Infectious disease (Molecular and Cellular aspects) Original Article Original Article The prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is approximately 3% around the world. This virus causes chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy is about 50% and is associated with significant toxicity and cost. Hence, generating new vaccines or drugs is an obligation. However, there is no vaccine available for clinical use. DNA vaccines have some advantages such as producing feasibility and generating intensive cellular and humoral immune responses. Activation and improvement of natural immune defense mechanisms is a necessity for the development of an effective HCV vaccine. This article discusses the current status of therapies for hepatitis C, the promising new therapies and the experimental strategies to develop an HCV vaccine. HCV, DNA vaccine, IFN- α, cellular immune response 207 215 http://ijmcmed.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-122-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Malihe Naderi rezamotalleb@gmail.com 10031947532846004135 10031947532846004135 Yes Department of Microbiology, Qom branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran. Naghmeh Gholipour 10031947532846004136 10031947532846004136 No National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Genetics, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari 10031947532846004137 10031947532846004137 No Department of Microbiology, Qom branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran. Binabaj Maryam Moradi 10031947532846004138 10031947532846004138 No Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran. Ahmad Yegane Moghadam 10031947532846004139 10031947532846004139 No Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Otolaryngology, Kashan, Iran. Motalleb Gholamreza 10031947532846004140 10031947532846004140 No Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.