Hepatitis D Virus induced pathogenesis and interaction with the immune system (A08)

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Hepatitis D Virus infection shows the most severe clinical course, however no direct antiviral treatment is available. We want to employ animal models of HDV infection (human liver chimeric mice) and develop new immunocompetent models (humanized NTCP mice) to investigate virus-host interactions (innate and adaptive immune responses) that may be responsible for HDV-associated liver injury and the severe clinical course observed in patients. Furthermore, we want to elucidate the mechanisms accountable for the non-response of specific HDV strains to interferon-alpha therapy by analyzing evasion mechanisms in vivo and by generating mosaic viruses from interferon-resistant and -sensible HDV strains. Knowledge obtained shall contribute to the development of new antiviral strategies.