Production of the novel hepatitis E virus (HEV) and examination of the possibility of the zoonotic infection

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K08090
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: Li Tiancheng 国立感染症研究所, ウイルス第二部, 主任研究官 (90370957)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 網 康至 国立感染症研究所, 動物管理室, 主任研究官 (10202699)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: HEV / 人獣共通感染症 / リバースジェネティック法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we used a reverse genetics system to generate HEV-5 and examined the possibility of zoonotic infection. Infectious HEV-5 was produced using a reverse genetics system, and the antigenicity was identical to that of human HEVs. Transmission of HEV-5 to primates was confirmed by an experimental infection, providing evidence of the possibility of zoonotic infection by HEV-5.
Further, rabbit HEV was also generated by reverse genetics system and the recovered viruses was capable of infecting rabbits negative for anti-HEV antibody by intravenous and oral inoculation. In addition, transmission of rabbit HEV to rabbits caused persistent infection, suggesting that the virus-infected rabbit could be an animal model for virus-induced hepatitis.

Free Research Field

ウイルス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

新型HEV-5をリバースジェネティック法により世界は作製に成功した。また、HEV-5が霊長類のカニクイザルに感染することにより,HEV-5の人獣共通感染症の可能性が示唆された。この発見はE型肝炎対策の策定に非常に有意義なことである。また、rabbit HEVがウサギに持続感染を引き起こすことは動物モデルの樹立にも大いに期待できる。