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Transgenic mice replicating hepatitis B virus but lacking expression of the major HBsAg
Author(s) -
Halverscheid Leonie,
Mannes Nina K.,
Weth Robert,
Kleinschmidt Manuela,
Schultz Ursula,
Reifenberg Kurt,
Schirmbeck Reinhold,
Nassal Michael,
Blum Hubert E.,
Reimann Jörg,
Geissler Michael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21115
Subject(s) - virology , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , biology , genetically modified mouse , virus , transgene , orthohepadnavirus , viral envelope , hepadnaviridae , endoplasmic reticulum , viral hepatitis , immune system , immunology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) transgenic mice replicating the viral genome at high level but lacking expression of the small envelope protein (HBsAg) have been produced using a terminally redundant viral DNA construct (HBV 1.4). The generation of viable infectious progeny was dependent on sex and age of mice. Viral mRNA was abundant in liver and kidneys and at low levels in other organs of the mice. No viral particles or HBV envelope proteins could be detected in sera of mice. Despite expression of non‐secreted LHBs and MHBs proteins in the liver, there was no accumulation of viral particles in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes and no necroinflammatory hepatitis was observed. Therefore, these mice represent an excellent model for studies of the role of HBsAg in viral assembly, antiviral immune responses, the further understanding of HBV immunopathogenesis, and the development of antiviral vaccines. J. Med. Virol. 80:583–590, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.