World Hepatitis Day

Today marks the 14th annual World Hepatitis Day, a global health awareness event aimed at increasing public understanding of hepatitis. Hepatitis is a serious disease and formidable adversary, but with sufficient knowledge and preventive measures, its threat can be controlled. On the scientific side of things, GemPharmatech has created numerous hepatitis models to help accelerate research aimed at treating this increasingly prevalent disease.

The Prevalence of Hepatitis

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, primarily caused by viruses, but also influenced by factors such as alcohol, drugs, and autoimmune diseases. The most common types of viral hepatitis include Hepatitis A (HAV), Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), Hepatitis D (HDV), and Hepatitis E (HEV). Among these, HBV and HCV pose the greatest threat and are significant contributors to liver cirrhosis and cancer. Globally, hundreds of millions of people are affected by viral hepatitis, resulting in a substantial number of deaths each year. Unfortunately, lack of awareness often leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Challenges in Treating Hepatitis B

While antiviral treatments can cure over 95% of Hepatitis C patients, complete eradication of the Hepatitis B virus remains elusive. Despite the increasing HBV vaccination rate and declining new cases, the large existing patient population necessitates more effective treatments to reduce the burden of this liver disease.

Additionally, low patient adherence and willingness to seek treatment often result in missed opportunities for viral control and potential disease progression. Early prevention and treatment are important in managing HBV.

Figure 1. Hepatitis viruses

Mouse Models: A Key Tool in Hepatitis Research

Mouse models play a vital role in anti-hepatitis virus research, and selecting the appropriate model is crucial for successful drug development. As a leading provider of mouse models, GemPharmatech has established BSL-2 and ABSL-2 biosafety laboratories in accordance with national regulations, providing a secure environment for studying infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Hepatitis virus infection models created by GemPharmatech:

1. rAAV-HBV Model:

This model, created by injecting AAV-HBV into mice via tail vein, produces HBV viral particles and antigens, simulating some immunological features of chronic HBV patients. Its intact immune system makes it suitable for evaluating immunotherapies and antiviral treatments.

Figure 2 AAV-HBV infection mouse model

2. Liver Humanized Mouse Model:

By transplanting primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) into NCG mice with severe immune deficiencies and measuring human albumin levels in mouse serum, this model supports the complete HBV infection cycle, including viral replication and amplification.

Figure 3 HBV infection model of humanized liver mice

These models developed by GemPharmatech not only evaluate drug metabolism in the liver but also facilitate research on HBV infection, cccDNA formation, HBV-host interactions, and the effectiveness of antiviral drugs. They serve as practical tools for achieving the ultimate goal of curing HBV infection and eliminating hepatitis.

To learn more about our mouse models, please contact us at sales@gempharmatech.com.