Hepatitis B virus: Identification of early infection mechanism and therapeutic target

We have been studying the infection mechanism of hepatitis B virus, HBV by using virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by yeasts. This tool enables us to study the receptor binding and intracellular trafficking of HBV without using infectious viral particles. Based on the infection mechanism of HBV, we’re now trying to identify a novel compound that can inhibit the infection of HBV into cells.

References

  1. M. Somiya et al., “Intracellular trafficking of bio-nanocapsule-liposome complex: Identification of fusogenic activity in the pre-S1 region of hepatitis B virus surface antigen L protein.,” Journal of controlled release, vol. 212, pp. 10–8, 2015, doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.06.012.
  2. Q. Liu et al., “Mutational analysis of hepatitis B virus pre-S1 (9-24) fusogenic peptide,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 474, no. 2, pp. 406–412, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.04.125.
  3. M. Somiya et al., “Cellular uptake of hepatitis B virus envelope L particles is independent of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide, but dependent on heparan sulfate proteoglycan,” Virology, vol. 497, pp. 23–32, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.06.024.
  4. Q. Liu, M. Somiya, M. Iijima, K. Tatematsu, and S. Kuroda, “A hepatitis B virus-derived human hepatic cell-specific heparin-binding peptide: identification and application to a drug delivery system,” Biomater. Sci., vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 322–335, 2019, doi: 10.1039/C8BM01134F.
  5. M. Nanahara, Y.-T. Chang, M. Somiya, and S. Kuroda, “HBV Pre-S1-Derived Myristoylated Peptide (Myr47): Identification of the Inhibitory Activity on the Cellular Uptake of Lipid Nanoparticles,” Viruses, vol. 13, no. 5, 2021, doi: 10.3390/v13050929.
  6. K. Takagi, M. Somiya, J. Jung, M. Iijima, and S. Kuroda, “Polymerized Albumin Receptor of Hepatitis B Virus for Evading the Reticuloendothelial System,” Pharmaceuticals, vol. 14, no. 5, 2021, doi: 10.3390/ph14050408.
Masaharu Somiya
Masaharu Somiya
Assistant Professor

My research interests include protein design for intracellular drug delivery, nanoparticle design, and interaction between nanoparticles and biological systems