In Vivo and IN Vitro Studies of Hepatitis E Virus

Emerson, S U.

Abstract

The objectives of this project are to obtain an increased understanding of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and related viruses with the goal of designing strategies for their control. Although sequence analysis of HEV clones is still rather limited, preliminary data indicate that this virus, like most single-stranded RNA-containing viruses, exhibits significant heterogeneity of genomic sequence. This has potential implications for vaccine development, since heterogeneity of the degree exhibited by this virus is sometimes associated with serotypic variation. However, the limited data available on cross-challenges in primate models suggest that even relatively divergent strains will elicit cross-protective antibodies. 1. A full-length cDNA clone of the Sar-55 strain of HEV has been constructed and is being tested for infectivity. 2. The major HEV structural protein has been obtained by expression of part of the Sar-55 genome in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector. 3. An ELISA for anti-HEV IgG and IgM has been developed. 4. Prolonged infection of a small percentage of Vero cells in culture has been documented using the polymerase chain reaction.

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Type: Intramural Research (Z01)
• Project #: 1Z01AI000596-02
• Application #: 3790833
• Support Year: 2
• Fiscal Year: 1992

Institution

• Name: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Country: United States

Publications

Graff, Judith; Zhou, Yi-Hua; Torian, Udana et al. (2008) Mutations within potential glycosylation sites in the capsid protein of hepatitis E virus prevent the formation of infectious virus particles. J Virol 82:1185-94

Purcell, R H; Emerson, S U (2008) Hepatitis E: an emerging awareness of an old disease. J Hepatol 48:494-503

Yu, Claro; Zimmerman, Carl; Stone, Roger et al. (2007) Using improved technology for filter paper-based blood collection to survey wild Sika deer for antibodies to hepatitis E virus. J Virol Methods 142:143-50

Zhou, Yi-Hua; Chen, Zhaochun; Purcell, Robert H et al. (2007) Positive reactions on Western blots do not necessarily indicate the epitopes on antigens are continuous. Immunol Cell Biol 85:73-8

Chen, Zhaochun; Earl, Patricia; Americo, Jeffrey et al. (2006) Chimpanzee/human mAbs to vaccinia virus B5 protein neutralize vaccinia and smallpox viruses and protect mice against vaccinia virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:1882-7

Chen, Zhaochun; Moayeri, Mahtab; Zhou, Yi-Hua et al. (2006) Efficient neutralization of anthrax toxin by chimpanzee monoclonal antibodies against protective antigen. J Infect Dis 193:625-33

Graff, Judith; Torian, Udana; Nguyen, Hanh et al. (2006) A bicistronic subgenomic mRNA encodes both the ORF2 and ORF3 proteins of hepatitis E virus. J Virol 80:5919-26

Meky, Fatma A; Stoszek, Sonia K; Abdel-Hamid, Mohamed et al. (2006) Active surveillance for acute viral hepatitis in rural villages in the Nile Delta. Clin Infect Dis 42:628-33

Emerson, Suzanne U; Clemente-Casares, Pilar; Moiduddin, Nasser et al. (2006) Putative neutralization epitopes and broad cross-genotype neutralization of Hepatitis E virus confirmed by a quantitative cell-culture assay. J Gen Virol 87:697-704

Stoszek, Sonia K; Abdel-Hamid, Mohamed; Saleh, Doa'a A et al. (2006) High prevalence of hepatitis E antibodies in pregnant Egyptian women. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 100:95-101