Hepatitis B viruses produce acute and chronic hepatitis and predispose to hepatocellular carcinoma. These viruses display both species specificity and hepatotropism, but the molecular bases of these properties are poorly understood. Little is known about how these viruses gain entrance into their host cells, so the contribution of virus-receptor interactions to these properties is uncertain. In this study we propose to isolate and characterize the host cell receptor for the duck hepatitis B virus, an animal model of human HBV. The gene for this molecule will be cloned and sequenced and its normal pathway of expression studied. The tissue and species distribution of the receptor will be determined to define the degree to which the receptor influences host range and tissue tropism. Cell lines and transgenic mice bearing the receptor will be constructed to allow the development of novel systems for examining hepadnaviral replication, persistence and pathogenesis. Information gained from these studies will be applied to the development of strategies for the identification of the human HBV receptor.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI031973-02
Application #
3146976
Study Section
Virology Study Section (VR)
Project Start
1992-03-01
Project End
1995-02-28
Budget Start
1993-03-01
Budget End
1994-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143