Project Details
Hepatitis E virus trafficking in polarized human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like systems (17)
Subject Area
Virology
Term
since 2018
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 240245660
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in the world. The polarity of epithelial cells in in-volved tissues, i.e the gut and the liver, plays a critical role in HEV fecal-oral transmission. Previously, we identified ORF3 as the sole driver of apical HEV trafficking. We now want to better understand the role of ORF3 during HEV secretion, identify interacting cellular determinants, and study the trafficking of ORF2 subpopulations. In addition, we plan to further improve available stem cell-derived hepatocyte polarity cul-ture systems. Our efforts will lead to a better understanding of HEV secretion and of the fine-tuned dynam-ics and regulation of the polarized trafficking machinery in hepatocytes in general.
DFG Programme
Collaborative Research Centres
Applicant Institution
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
Project Head
Viet Loan Dao Thi, Ph.D.