The tyrosine kinase Yes1 is a druggable host factor of HEV.

Background: HEV is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the Hepeviridae family. Although HEV accounts for more than 3 million symptomatic cases of viral hepatitis per year, specific anti-HEV therapy and knowledge about HEV pathogenesis are scarce.

Methods: To gain a deeper understanding of the HEV infectious cycle and guide the development of novel antiviral strategies, we here used an RNAi mini screen targeting a selection of kinases, including mitogen-activated protein kinases, receptor tyrosine kinases, and Src-family kinases.

Targeting cellular cathepsins inhibits hepatitis E virus entry.

Background And Aims: HEV is estimated to be responsible for 70,000 deaths annually, yet therapy options remain limited. In the pursuit of effective antiviral therapies, targeting viral entry holds promise and has proven effective for other viruses. However, the precise mechanisms and host factors required during HEV entry remain unclear.