How hepatitis C changes to jump between species
Genetic Viral and Host Adaptations to Breach Species Barriers of HCV
This project creates a mouse model of hepatitis C so scientists can study how the virus and host interact to help develop better vaccines and treatments for people with HCV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251330 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone affected by hepatitis C, this work tries to make a mouse behave more like a human when infected so researchers can study the disease in a whole immune system. Scientists are using a murine-adapted viral strain called Mad18 and studying how viral changes and mouse genes let the virus replicate in mouse liver cells. They will map which host barriers stop infection and test whether altering virus or host factors overcomes those barriers. The model would also be used to try vaccine candidates that cannot yet be fully tested in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The findings are intended to benefit people living with chronic hepatitis C and those at high risk of infection, although the grant itself does not enroll patients.
Not a fit: People without hepatitis C or with unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical, animal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could speed development and testing of safer vaccines and therapies by providing a realistic small-animal model of hepatitis C.
How similar studies have performed: Previous efforts to build small-animal models for HCV have been limited, but this project builds on a newly identified murine-adapted variant (Mad18) that shows improved replication in mouse liver cells.
Where this research is happening
Princeton, UNITED STATES
- Princeton University — Princeton, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ploss, Alexander — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Ploss, Alexander
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.