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A research project has just been launched by FéRI teams on the study of virological factors associated with the chronic course of hepatitis E in immunocompromised patients with modeling of the infection in vivo in pigs.

Hepatitis E is a food-borne viral infection (pork, game, etc.) whose importance has long been underestimated. The main problem with this infection is its progression to a chronic form in immunocompromised people, especially after an organ transplant. The aim of the study is to focus on chronic hepatitis E by developing original experimental approaches allowing the virus to be cultured in the laboratory and to model the infection in pigs.

The project includes 3 research axes:

1. a genetic study of hepatitis E viruses in a cohort of chronically infected patients followed at the University Hospital of Tours,
2. the development of a laboratory culture system for viruses from these patients,
3. establishing a model of chronic infection in pigs.

The aim of this project is to better understand the mechanisms leading to the establishment of chronic infections with the hepatitis E virus.

This research project brings together research teams in human and animal health: UMR INSERM 1259 (University of Tours), UMR INRAE ​​1282 and EU INRAE ​​1277 (INRAE Centre ​​Val de Loire).