A cDNA clone of a genotype 4 swine hepatitis E virus (HEV) strain (SAAS-FX17),identified in Shanghai,has been constructed.Capped RNA transcripts were prepared in vitro and shown to be replication-competent in Huh7 cells.Sprague- Dawley (SD) rats administered the RNA transcripts by intrahepatic inoculation developed active infections as evidenced by fecal virus shedding and sero-conversion to anti-HEV.The former was first detected between 23-30 days post-inoculation (dpi) and persisted until 45 dpi.Sera of rats inoculated with RNA transcripts became anti-HEV positive between 30 and 40 dpi,and reverted to anti-HEV negative at 52 dpi.Our data indicate for the first time that intrahepatic inoculation of rats with RNA transcripts of an HEV cDNA clone may serve as an alternative animal model for HEV research.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infectious clone genotype 4 rat animal model
Yumin Zhu Xiaoming Yu Yuanshu Zhang Yanyan Ni Fusheng Si Ruisong Yu Shijuan Dong Yaowei Huang Zhen Li
Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Shangh Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Shangh College of Veterinary Medicine,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing,China Center for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases,College of Veterinary Medicine,Virginia Polyte Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine,Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Shangh