Alternative cell lines to improve the rescue of infectious human astrovirus from a cDNA clone

► Huh7.5.1 cells are more susceptible and permissive for HAstV-1 and HAstV-8 than Hek-293 cells. ► Processing of the structural protein of HAstV-8 is similar in Huh7.5.1 and Caco-2 but not in Hek-293. ► Huh7.5.1 cells can be used to improve virus rescue from viral RNA at one replication cycle. ► The specific infectivity of HAstV RNA is apparently affected by modifications at its 5′-end.