How hepatitis E virus leaves liver cells
Mechanism for hepatitis E virus exit from polarized hepatocytes
This work looks at how hepatitis E virus exits liver cells to help people with acute or persistent HEV infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307648 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will examine how HEV particles move out of polarized human liver cells and whether viral proteins direct that exit. They will study differences between apical (bile-facing) and basolateral (blood-facing) release using cultured polarized hepatocytes and human liver chimeric mice. Molecular and cell biology techniques will track viral particles, manipulate the viral ORF3 protein, and probe host cell trafficking machinery involved in virus release. These lab-based experiments aim to identify steps in the virus life cycle that could be targets for future treatments or vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with acute hepatitis E or persistent HEV infection, particularly immunocompromised patients, would be most relevant for providing samples or benefiting from future therapies.
Not a fit: People without HEV infection or with liver disease from other causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat HEV infection, especially for people who develop persistent infection.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have identified parts of the HEV life cycle and roles for ORF3, but the detailed mechanisms of apical versus basolateral release remain experimental and incompletely resolved.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, United States
- Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Zongdi — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Feng, Zongdi
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.