Compositions comprising viral antigens and antigenic peptides corresponding to or derived from Hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins or fragments thereof, fused to heavy and/or light chain of antibodies, or fragments thereof specific for dendritic cells (DCs) are described herein. Included herein are immunostimulatory compositions (HCV vaccines, HCV antigen presenting dendritic cells, etc.) and methods for increasing effectiveness of HCV antigen presentation by an antigen presenting cell, for a treatment, a prophylaxis or a combination thereof against hepatitis C in a human subject, and methods of providing immunostimulation by activation of one or more dendritic cells, methods to treat or prevent hepatitis C.