OPERATION OF A MOLECULAR VIROLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY

该合同结合了基础研究的重点和分子 分子生物学部的生物学专业知识 病毒学，乔治敦大学，与持续的纲领性 * 监测和指导DMID工作人员， 外部研究人员的最先进的协议， 这是在赠款资助的水平上无法实现的。 基础研究 重点仍然是土拨鼠的特征 肝炎病毒（WHV）感染作为人类B型肝炎的模型 病毒（HBV）感染及其长期后遗症。的新参数 免疫学、发病机理和病毒学将在 合同期限。 人丁型肝炎病毒的研究 同时感染WHV感染的土拨鼠将扩大到包括 潜在的疫苗研究以及 不同的人类HDV分离株。地面之间的差异 将检查松鼠肝炎病毒（GSHV）和WHV， 确定疾病进展中变异的遗传原因。 的 所有这些研究的最终目标是辨别 病毒感染的决定因素导致疾病慢性化， 与疾病康复相反， 以预防导致肝硬化和肝细胞癌的事件 B型肝炎患者的癌症。

This contract combines a basic research emphasis and the molecular biology expertise of the group at the Division of Molecular Virology, Georgetown University, with the continuous programmatic monitoring and direction of DMID staff towards inclusion of state- of-the-art protocols from outside researchers which would otherwise not be achievable at a grant-funded level. The basic research focus continues to be the characterization of the Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus (WHV) infection as a model for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its long-term sequelae. New parameters of immunology, pathogenesis, and virology will be addressed during the contract period. Studies on the human hepatitis D virus (HDV) which coinfects WHV-infected woodchucks will be expanded to include potential vaccine studies as well as pathogenic analyses of different human HDV isolates. The differences between the Ground Squirrel Hepatitis Virus (GSHV) and WHV will be examined to identify genetic causes of variation in disease progression. The eventual goal from all these studies is to discern what determinants of viral infection lead to disease chronicity as opposed to disease recovery and where can interdiction take place to prevent the events leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B patients.