GBV-B: A SMALL PRIMATE MODEL FOR HEPATITIS C INFECTION

这个子项目是许多利用资源的研究子项目之一 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。次级项目的主要支助 而子项目的主要调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括其他NIH来源。 列出的子项目总成本可能 表示子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 而不是由NCRR赠款提供给子项目或子项目工作人员的直接资金。 丙型肝炎病毒感染影响全球约2%的人口。 该病毒具有诱导持续感染的高倾向，随着时间的推移，该感染进展为严重的肝脏疾病，包括肝硬化和肝癌。 由于缺乏小动物模型和组织培养系统，对HCV的研究一直受到阻碍。 GBV-B是在遗传学上与HCV最密切相关的病毒，并且它在绢毛猴中引起肝炎。 我们已经开发了GBV-B动物模型作为HCV的替代小灵长类动物模型。我们最近已经证明，普通的绒猴同样允许GBV-B感染，现在是首选的动物模型。 此外，我们已经开发了一个强大的组织培养系统GBV-B利用原代肝细胞培养的绢毛猴或绒猴。 在本提案中，我们将更全面地开发GBV-B的动物和培养模型，并测试与HCV疾病相关的特定假设。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Hepatitis C virus infections affect approximately 2% of the worldwide population. The virus has a high propensity for inducing persistent infection that over time progress to serious liver disease including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Research on HCV has been impeded by the lack of a small animal model and a tissue culture system. GBV-B is the virus phylogenetically most closely related to HCV and it causes hepatitis in tamarins. We have developed the GBV-B animal model as a surrogate small primate model for HCV. We have recently demonstrated that the common marmoset is equally permissive for GBV-B infections and is now the preferred animal model. In addition, we have developed a robust tissue culture system for GBV-B utilizing primary hepatocyte cultures from tamarins or marmosets. In this proposal, we will more fully develop the animal and culture models for GBV-B and test specific hypotheses relevant to HCV disease.