Table 2.
Examples of transgenic mice and their associated phenotypes in studying HBV and HCV
| Pathogen | Component of virus expressed | Resultant phenotype in mouse |
|---|---|---|
| HCV (as reviewed in [42]) | Core | Apoptosis of hepatocytes, lipogenesis |
| NS4B | No liver disease observed | |
| E1-E2-NS2 | Liver injury | |
| Core-E2 | No liver disease observed | |
| HBV (as reviewed in [41]) | HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and pre-S and X antigens | No viral replication or signs of liver disease |
| X gene | Tumor formation in the liver | |
| Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) | T cell tolerance in response to HBcAg, but no liver disease observed | |
| 1.3 HBV-DNA | High viral particle production | |