A nucleic acid having a first nucleotide sequence encoding an infectious
hepatitis C virus, a second nucleotide sequence encoding a ribozyme, and
an inducible promoter operably linked to the first and second nucleotide
sequences, the ribozyme being configured to remove a 3' sequence
unnecessary for replication of the infectious hepatitis C virus from a
transcript initiated by the inducible, is described. A cell containing the
nucleic acid and methods of using the cell are also described.