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In Vitro Systems for Studying Different Genotypes/Sub-Genotypes of Hepatitis B Virus: Strengths and Limitations. Viruses 2020; 12:v12030353. [PMID: 32210021 PMCID: PMC7150782 DOI: 10.3390/v12030353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects the liver resulting in end stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite an effective vaccine, HBV poses a serious health problem globally, accounting for 257 million chronic carriers. Unique features of HBV, including its narrow virus-host range and its hepatocyte tropism, have led to major challenges in the development of suitable in vivo and in vitro model systems to recapitulate the HBV replication cycle and to test various antiviral strategies. Moreover, HBV is classified into at least nine genotypes and 35 sub-genotypes with distinct geographical distributions and prevalence, which have different natural histories of infection, clinical manifestation, and response to current antiviral agents. Here, we review various in vitro systems used to study the molecular biology of the different (sub)genotypes of HBV and their response to antiviral agents, and we discuss their strengths and limitations. Despite the advances made, no system is ideal for pan-genotypic HBV research or drug development and therefore further improvement is required. It is necessary to establish a centralized repository of HBV-related generated materials, which are readily accessible to HBV researchers, with international collaboration toward advancement and development of in vitro model systems for testing new HBV antivirals to ensure their pan-genotypic and/or customized activity.
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Lamontagne RJ, Bagga S, Bouchard MJ. Hepatitis B virus molecular biology and pathogenesis. HEPATOMA RESEARCH 2016; 2:163-186. [PMID: 28042609 PMCID: PMC5198785 DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2016.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses need a host cell to provide a milieu favorable to viral replication. Consequently, viruses often adopt mechanisms to subvert host cellular signaling processes. While beneficial for the viral replication cycle, virus-induced deregulation of host cellular signaling processes can be detrimental to host cell physiology and can lead to virus-associated pathogenesis, including, for oncogenic viruses, cell transformation and cancer progression. Included among these oncogenic viruses is the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite the availability of an HBV vaccine, 350-500 million people worldwide are chronically infected with HBV, and a significant number of these chronically infected individuals will develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epidemiological studies indicate that chronic infection with HBV is the leading risk factor for the development of HCC. Globally, HCC is the second highest cause of cancer-associated deaths, underscoring the need for understanding mechanisms that regulate HBV replication and the development of HBV-associated HCC. HBV is the prototype member of the Hepadnaviridae family; members of this family of viruses have a narrow host range and predominately infect hepatocytes in their respective hosts. The extremely small and compact hepadnaviral genome, the unique arrangement of open reading frames, and a replication strategy utilizing reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate to generate the DNA genome are distinguishing features of the Hepadnaviridae. In this review, we provide a comprehensive description of HBV biology, summarize the model systems used for studying HBV infections, and highlight potential mechanisms that link a chronic HBV-infection to the development of HCC. For example, the HBV X protein (HBx), a key regulatory HBV protein that is important for HBV replication, is thought to play a cofactor role in the development of HBV-induced HCC, and we highlight the functions of HBx that may contribute to the development of HBV-associated HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Jason Lamontagne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sumedha Bagga
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Michael J. Bouchard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
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Chen J, Wu M, Liu K, Zhang W, Li Y, Zhou X, Bai L, Yuan Z. New insights into hepatitis B virus biology and implications for novel antiviral strategies. Natl Sci Rev 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwv044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a small DNA virus with a unique replication mode, can cause chronic hepatitis (CHB), which is characterized by the persistence of the viral covalently closed circular DNA that serves as the template for HBV replication and the production of large amounts of secreted HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) that is present in excess of the levels of infectious virus. Despite the success of currently approved antiviral treatments for CHB patients, including interferon and nucleotide analogs, which suppress HBV replication and reduce the risk of CHB-related liver diseases, these therapies fail to eradicate the virus in most of the patients. With the development of the cell and animal models for HBV study, a better understanding of the HBV life cycle has been achieved and a series of novel antiviral strategies that target different stages of HBV replication have been designed to overcome the viral factors that contribute to HBV persistence. Such basic HBV research advancements and therapeutic developments are the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieliang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Ministry of Education and Health, and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Research Unit, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Min Wu
- Research Unit, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Kuancheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Ministry of Education and Health, and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Institutes of Medical Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Ministry of Education and Health, and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Research Unit, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Yaming Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Ministry of Education and Health, and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhou
- Research Unit, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Ministry of Education and Health, and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhenghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Ministry of Education and Health, and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Institutes of Medical Microbiology and Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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