A genome wide cDNA screen to identify the hepatitis E virus entry receptor

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Eike Steinmann
• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 499292334

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a long-neglected RNA virus and the major causative agent of acute viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. A better understanding of the viral life cycle, including the mechanisms of entry into host cells, is needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this project we aim to employ a novel screening system to identify HEV entry receptors. Elucidating the receptor which HEV employs to enter permissive cells is instrumental to understanding host and tissue tropism, and will expand the understanding of HEV virus-host interactions and host mediators of HEV induced pathology. Receptor identification can also allow generation of susceptible animal models to study the viral life cycle and evaluate antiviral therapeutics. Furthermore, viral entry represents a well-validated therapeutic target for both small-molecule antagonists and vaccines that elicit neutralizing antibodies. We will employ a set of unique complementary methodologies including a novel HEV cell culture system and a complementary cDNA library derived from HEV-permissive primary human hepatocytes to implement a cDNA-based screening system to identify and characterize candidate HEV entry receptors for this zoonotic important pathogen.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants