Mechanisms of hepatitis E virus persistence and immunopathology in immunocompromised patients (A06)

• Subject Area: Virology ; Immunology
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 256073931

The project will follow up on HEV-specific CD8 T cell failure in chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in immunosuppressed patients. A06 will determine HEV-specific CD8 T cell phenotypes and transcription profiles and relate them to clinical parameters. Data integration and data modeling will serve as a basis to: a) optimize management of chronic HEV infection (choice of immunosuppression, timing of antiviral therapy), b) predict sustained HEV clearance and required ribavirin treatment duration, c) predict the risk of re-infection and d) to prevent liver failure in patients failing antiviral therapy by using immune-based treatment strategies for chronic HEV infection.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1160: Immune-mediated pathology as a consequence of impaired immune reactions (IMPATH)
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Christoph Neumann-Haefelin