How the body responds to hepatitis D (delta) infection
Host Response to Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection
This project looks at how hepatitis D sparks antiviral defenses in liver cells from people with hepatitis B and why the virus keeps surviving.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309674 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have hepatitis D, researchers are trying to understand how the virus triggers the liver's antiviral defenses yet still persists. They will work with human liver cells in the lab and use genetic, biochemical, and signaling tests to see how viral RNA activates the MDA5 sensor and turns on interferon-stimulated genes. The team will also study why those antiviral responses fail to stop HDV and will examine the role of the host protein ADAR1, which the virus appears to require. These lab findings could point to new drug targets or tests that might eventually help people with HBV-HDV coinfection.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future participation or sample donation would be people with chronic hepatitis B who are coinfected with hepatitis D.
Not a fit: People without hepatitis B (and therefore not at risk for hepatitis D) or those needing immediate treatments are unlikely to get direct benefits from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal new targets for therapies to stop hepatitis D and slow liver damage in people with HBV-HDV coinfection.
How similar studies have performed: Other lab studies have shown strong interferon responses to HDV but the virus's resistance is not well understood, so this work builds on known science while exploring new mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saito, Takeshi — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Saito, Takeshi
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.