Class
Article
College
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
Faculty Mentor
Neil Motter
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Transgenic Hepatitis B mice are crucial to the research and development of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines and therapies. Using a specific transgenic mouse developed by Frank Chisari (The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA), the Institute for Antiviral Research at Utah State University performs research and experiments an NIH/NIAID contract and for pharmaceutical companies. These mice express all HBV DNA, RNA, capsid, and protein antigens. The surface antigen (HBsAg) is of particular interest as it is commonly used as a target for vaccinations, and as a diagnostic marker. By collecting serum from transgenic mice over the course of seven weeks, a timeline for the expression of HBsAg was determined. By performing antigen-specific ELISAs, it was shown that HBsAg titers drop off between the ages of eight and nine weeks, despite constant levels of HBV DNA in serum. An analysis of the HBe antigen was similarly performed, which shows constant titers of HBeAg throughout the timeline. HBeAg levels were compared to HBV DNA levels in serum and in liver, and a positive correlation was shown. It is hypothesized that the transgenic mouse’s immune system begins to attack the HBsAg, but further research needs to be conducted. The reduction of HBsAg titers could impact the accuracy of research involving drugs that act on the HBs antigen, and could impact diagnostic assays that screen for the presence of the HBs antigen. It is now hypothesize that low levels of HBsAg-specific immunoglobulins (IgG) are produced over time that remove HBsAg from the serum. To test this hypothesis, assays are currently being performed to measure IgG levels in the serum that was collected over the course of the experiment.
Location
Room 101
Start Date
4-12-2018 3:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2018 4:15 PM
Timeframe of HBeAg and HBsAg Levels of Developing Chisari Mice and Correlation with Liver Hepatitis B DNA Levels
Room 101
Transgenic Hepatitis B mice are crucial to the research and development of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines and therapies. Using a specific transgenic mouse developed by Frank Chisari (The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA), the Institute for Antiviral Research at Utah State University performs research and experiments an NIH/NIAID contract and for pharmaceutical companies. These mice express all HBV DNA, RNA, capsid, and protein antigens. The surface antigen (HBsAg) is of particular interest as it is commonly used as a target for vaccinations, and as a diagnostic marker. By collecting serum from transgenic mice over the course of seven weeks, a timeline for the expression of HBsAg was determined. By performing antigen-specific ELISAs, it was shown that HBsAg titers drop off between the ages of eight and nine weeks, despite constant levels of HBV DNA in serum. An analysis of the HBe antigen was similarly performed, which shows constant titers of HBeAg throughout the timeline. HBeAg levels were compared to HBV DNA levels in serum and in liver, and a positive correlation was shown. It is hypothesized that the transgenic mouse’s immune system begins to attack the HBsAg, but further research needs to be conducted. The reduction of HBsAg titers could impact the accuracy of research involving drugs that act on the HBs antigen, and could impact diagnostic assays that screen for the presence of the HBs antigen. It is now hypothesize that low levels of HBsAg-specific immunoglobulins (IgG) are produced over time that remove HBsAg from the serum. To test this hypothesis, assays are currently being performed to measure IgG levels in the serum that was collected over the course of the experiment.