Polarized epithelia and the natural history of hepatitis viruses

引起人类肝炎的病毒必须穿过体内的专门细胞层才能到达肝脏，并且必须再次穿过这些细胞层和肝细胞才能传播到随后的宿主。这项研究将检查每种肝炎病毒（HAV到HEV）如何能够进入和离开身体，以及这些机制在急性疾病和慢性感染B和C型肝炎病毒的发展中可能发挥的作用。这些发现将有助于开发更好的预防和控制病毒性肝炎的方法。

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.