Research Focus

Our work is focused on understanding the viral and host factors that determine pathogenesis and outcome of hepatitis B virus infection. By real time monitoring of the virological parameters and the genomic host response during hepatitis B virus infection, we found that the hepatitis B virus apparently does not induce an innate immune response. Nevertheless, hepatitis B virus replication is very sensitive to the antiviral mechanisms induced by cytokines such as interferon alpha, beta and gamma and we are investigating the role of these mechanisms during clearance of hepatitis B virus infection and their molecular mechanisms.

Selected References

Wieland S., Guidotti L.G., and Chisari F.V. Intrahepatic induction of alpha/beta interferon eliminates viral RNA-containing capsids in hepatitis B virus transgenic mice. J. Virol. 74, 4165-4173, 2000.

Wieland S., Thimme R., Purcell R.H., and Chisari F.V. Genomic analysis of the host response to hepatitis B virus infection. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 6669-6674, 2004.

Wieland, S. and Chisari, F.V. Stealth and cunning: hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. J. Virol. 79, 9369-9380, 2005.

Murray J.M., Purcell R.H., and Wieland S. The half-life of hepatitis B virions. Hepatology 44, 1117-1121, 2006.