Suppressing Hepatitis B Virus Replication Using Viral Antigen-Specific T Cells

Take T cells with receptors that bind to the antigens of hepatitis B virus, or HBV.

Inject the T cells into the tail vein of a mouse.

Allow the injected cells to spread in the liver.

To mimic virus infection, take plasmids carrying the HBV genome.

Inject the plasmids rapidly into the tail vein, directing the plasmids into the liver.

The force of the liquid permeabilizes the vessel endothelium and generates temporary pores in the cells.

The plasmids enter the cell and undergo RNA synthesis, producing mRNA that is used for viral protein production.

Some of these proteins act as viral antigens.

The antigen-presenting molecules carry the viral antigens to the cell surface, exposing them to the T cells.

These immune cells interact with the viral antigens and initiate mechanisms to eliminate the infected cells, inhibiting viral protein assembly and spreading.