Polarized epithelia and the natural history of hepatitis viruses

导致人类肝炎的病毒必须穿过体内专门的细胞层到达肝脏，并且必须再次穿过这些细胞层和肝细胞，才能传播给随后的宿主。本研究将研究每种肝炎病毒（HAV到HEV）如何能够进入和离开人体，以及这些机制在急性疾病和慢性乙型和丙型肝炎病毒感染的发展中可能发挥的作用。这些发现将有助于开发预防和控制病毒性肝炎的改进方法。

The viruses causing hepatitis in man must cross specialised cell layers in the body to reach the liver, and must again cross these cell layers and liver cells in order to be transmitted to subsequent hosts. This research will examine how each of the hepatitis viruses (HAV to HEV) are able to enter and exit the body, and the role that these mechanisms may play in the development of acute disease and of chronic infections with hepatitis B and C viruses. The findings will contribute to development of improved methods for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis.