Chronic viral hepatitis
Hepatitis B and C virus - host interaction (Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer)
The human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a small, enveloped DNA viruses (family hepadnaviridae) whereas the hepatitis C virus is an enveloped plus-strand RNA virus (family flaviviridae). Although the viruses are rather diverse, both cause acute and chronic liver infections in humans. They cause a major public health problem with about 350 million chronic HBV and about 170 million chronic HCV carriers worldwide who are at high risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Since strategies to eradicate the viruses and treatments for consequent liver disease are still very limited, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. As a prerequisite for developing these, we established infection systems that allow studying (and interfering with) all steps of virus replication.
The main focus of our group is to understand in molecular detail the interaction of HBV with its host and its host cell, the hepatocyte. Hereby, we investigate which cellular pathways are involved in the control of HBV replication, which viral proteins may counteract them and how HBV is activated or inactivated by immune mediators or metabolites. In addition, we use the advanced understanding of HBV molecular biology for developing HBV-based viral vectors for a liver directed gene transfer. Since hepatitis C virus infected individuals often develop type II diabetes, we investigate how the virus may interfere with insulin signaling. We also want to contribute to the molecular understanding of hepatocarcinogenesis, which develops on the basis of chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection. Based on the knowledge we acquire, we develop novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies, and test them in preclinical mouse models we have established.
