HBV GenetIc and Proteomic Screen

Objectif

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major global health problem resulting in progressive liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma – the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Although HBV structure and genome have been characterized, key aspects of the viral life cycle remain poorly understood because of the lack of a robust HBV infectious tissue culture system. Moreover, despite the development of a safe and efficient vaccine, over 240 million people are chronically infected with HBV. Thus, the development of efficient anti-viral strategies to cure HBV infection remains a critical unmet medical need. To date, there is an important gap of knowledge in basic HBV biology that results in the lack of identified drug targets to cure chronic HBV infection. These limitations can now be overcome using a state-of-the-art HBV tissue culture model combined with technological advances in genetics and proteomics. The aim of HIPShot (Hbv genetIc and Proteomic Screen) is to use cutting-edge screening techniques in human cells to identify host factors that are essential for HBV infection and at the same time targets for antiviral cure. With my expertise in using forward genetic screening and proteomic approaches, I decided to join one of the leading groups in HBV research, lead by Prof. Thomas Baumert (TB) and based at Inserm Unit U1110 of Université de Strasbourg (UdS), to exploit novel technologies in the investigation of host-virus interaction. The proposed project will provide unmatched insights into the basic biology of HBV infection by shedding new light on cellular host factors exploited by HBV to replicate and persist in human cells. These identified host factors will constitute direct drug targets with an important therapeutic potential.