Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Core Mutants That Inhibit Viral Replication

Pier Paolo Scaglioni, Margherita Melegari, Jack R. Wands

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have generated and functionally characterized dominant negative core protein variants of the hepadnaviruses to determine their effects on "wild type" viral replication. Plasmids expressing these constructs were introduced into hepatoma cell lines by transient transfection and effects on wild type woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication were evaluated by Southern blot analysis of purified viral core particles. WHV and HBV constructs expressing a truncated core protein fused in frame with the C-terminus of the small surface protein were found to inhibit vital replication by 90-95% due to disruption of the viral nucleocapsid assembly process and preventing encapsidation of pregenomic RNA. The antiviral effects were found to be specific for the targeted virus. These results demonstrate that mutants of hepadnaviral core protein may represent a novel class of antiviral agents. K;.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number71625
Pages (from-to)112-120
Number of pages9
JournalVirology
Volume205
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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