Functional analysis of molecular perturbations induced by Hepatitis B and D virus infection (24*)

• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 272983813

Using advanced proteomics analysis, we found that host protein turnover (protein stability and degradation) is critical to regulate the interferon-mediated cellular antiviral defence. Moreover, in HBV infected cells we could identify ~100 proteins that show differential turnover rates after infection and evaluated 30 candidates for their ability to regulate HBV DNA and cccDNA abundance. Our data revealed a surprising relationship between proteins involved in energy metabolism (COX6C and NDUFB9) and the selective accumulation of cccDNA. We will further characterize this relationship and extend our studies to clinically important HBV/HDV co-infection models, which we will functionally evaluate with the aim to identify yet undescribed molecular mechanisms that determine virus proliferation and persistence.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 179: Determinants and dynamics of elimination versus persistence of hepatitis virus infection
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Andreas Pichlmair