Why the hepatitis E virus cannot infect mice

Genetic material is not unpacked

It has long been known that the hepatitis E virus cannot establish an infection in mice, but the reasons were unknown. The virology research team in Bochum therefore systematically examined the replication cycle of the virus in liver cell cultures of mice. “We observed that most processes of viral infection also function in mouse cells,” reports Frericks. Viral particles attached to murine hepatocytes andnew virus particles could also be formed and released from the host cell if viral entry was bypassed. “But functional cell entry is blocked,” the scientist continues. “Even when our findings indicate that the virus particles are imported, the viral genetic material is likely not unpacked in the mouse cells.”

This is important for a variety of reasons: For one, it improves our understanding of the host range of this zoonotic virus and help assess the risk of transmission to other animal species. Secondly, it could pave the way for establishing a mouse model to study the disease. “This would be immensely helpful in testing therapeutic approaches,” says Frericks. “There is still no specific, effective treatment for hepatitis E.”

Hepatitis E

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the main causes of acute viral hepatitis. Up to about 70,000 people die every year from the disease. After the first documented epidemic outbreak from 1955 to 1956, it took approximately 50 years before researchers began to intensively study the topic. Acute infections normally cure themselves in patients with intact immune systems, but HEV can become chronic in individuals with a reduced or suppressed immune system, as well as organ transplant recipients or persons infected with HIV. The virus is also particularly dangerous to pregnant women. There is no vaccination or specific active antiviral available in Europe.