Soluble ORF2 protein enhances HEV replication and induces long-lasting antibody response and protective immunity in vivo.

Background And Aims: The HEV is a small positive-sense RNA virus that encodes a cytoplasmic form of the capsid protein (ORF2c), essential for virion structure, and a secreted glycosylated form (ORF2s) that accumulates at high titer in serum and can mask neutralizing epitopes. We explored the contribution of ORF2s to HEV replication and its role in generating antibodies against ORF2 in a nonhuman primate model.

Approach And Results: We used a recombinant HEV genotype 3 variant that does not express ORF2s due to the introduction of stop codons (ORF2s mut ).

Resolution of hepatitis E virus infection in CD8+ T cell-depleted rhesus macaques.

Background & Aims: HEV is a significant cause of acute hepatitis globally. Some genotypes establish persistent infection when immunity is impaired. Adaptive immune mechanisms that mediate resolution of infection have not been identified.