Successful infection of BALB/c mice by a swine hepatitis E virus clone constructed with reverse genetics

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of hepatitis worldwide. However, its infection biology and pathogenesis remain largely elusive. Furthermore, no proven medication is available for treating hepatitis E. Robust experimental models are urgently required to advance the research of HEV infection. Because of the lacking of a sophisticated small animal model, this study aimed to establish a mouse model of HEV infection. METHODS: We constructed a full-length swine HEV cDNA clone of genotype 4 (named as pGEM-HEV) by reverse genetics approach. And we inoculated with HEV RNA in BALB/c mice to establish small animal model for HEV infection and pathogenesis studies. RESULTS: The capped RNA transcripts of pGEM-HEV prepared in vitro were replication-competent in HepG2 cells. Importantly, BALB/c mice intravenously inoculated with RNA transcripts of pGEM-HEV developed an active infection as shown by shedding viruses in feces, detectable negative strand of HEV in the liver, spleen and kidney, and causing liver inflammation. CONCLUSION: In this study, we successfully established of BALB/c mice-based small animal model for HEV provides an opportunity to further understand HEV pathogenesis and to develop effective antiviral medications.