How hepatitis E tricks the immune system

Medicine

Peer-Reviewed Publication

RUHR-UNIVERSITY BOCHUM

 

IMAGE: DANIEL TODT, EIKE STEINMANN AND TONI LUISE MEISTER (LEFT TO RIGHT) LOOK AT THE IMAGE OF A CELL INFECTED WITH THE HEPATITIS E VIRUS. THE CAPSID PROTEIN CAN BE SEEN IN GREEN, THE CELL NUCLEUS IN BLUE. view more 

CREDIT: © ABTEILUNG FÜR MOLEKULARE UND MEDIZINISCHE VIROLOGIE

Advantages and disadvantages of mutations

Antibodies are an important defence mechanism against viral infections in our body. They specifically bind mostly to surface proteins of viruses to render it harmless. But, viruses have developed strategies to evade this neutralisation. During an infection with the hepatitis E virus, random mutations often give rise to virus variants that can coexist within an infected person. The antiviral agent Ribavirin, which many chronically infected patients receive, can even increase the formation of such variants.

The research team took a closer look at eight capsid protein variants from samples of chronically infected patients treated with ribavirin in the laboratory. The team wanted to know: Do the genetic changes bring advantages or disadvantaged for the virus? Do they influence the virus’ ability to replicate or its infectivity?

„While seven of the investigated mutations behaved exactly like the wild type virus, we found differences in one mutant,” reports Toni Luise Meister. This mutation affects the capsid protein, which is essential for packaging the viral particles. “The viruses with this mutation are assembled incorrectly, are probably smaller than the wild type virus, and the capsid protein does not accumulate in the cell,” describes Daniel Todt. These particles are not infectious, but are correctly recognised and bound by antibodies of the immune system. “This could be an advantage for the virus. These defective particles could potentially catch antibodies, so that there are no longer enough to neutralise correctly assembled, infectious virus particles,” speculates Eike Steinmann.

Hepatitis E

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main cause of acute viral hepatitis. Around 70,000 people die from the disease every year. After the first documented epidemic outbreak in 1955 to 1956, more than 50 years passed before researchers took a closer look at the issue. Acute infections usually heal on their own in individuals with an intact immune system. In patients with reduced or suppressed immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients or HIV-infected patients, HEV can become chronic. HEV is also particularly threatening for pregnant women.

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JOURNAL

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.2202653119 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Cells

ARTICLE TITLE

A ribavirin-induced ORF2 single nucleotide variant produces defective hepatitis E virus particles with immune decoy function

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

15-Aug-2022