A study led by researchers from Bochum found that chronic Hepatitis E infection may be caused by the virus incorporating host genetic segments into its genome, giving it a replication advantage. This insertion of host RNA could predict the transition to chronic infection. The study analyzed the virus populations in a chronically infected patient for over a year, showing a change in the composition of the virus genome. This incorporation of host RNA provided a replication advantage in cell culture experiments. The findings suggest a possible mechanism for Hepatitis E infection becoming chronic and offer insights into potential biomarkers for early detection.
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Host RNA incorporation linked to chronic hepatitis E infection
