A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identifies Rab5A as potential hepatitis E drug target

Utilising a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen in human cells with hepatitis E virus (HEV) subgenomic replicons, researchers at University of Lausanne, Switzerland, identified the Ras-related protein Rab5A as crucial for HEV RNA replication.

By: Gorm Palmgren - Dec. 19, 2023

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Targeted silencing of Rab5A and related endosomal proteins notably reduced HEV RNA replication, while late endosome components had no effect. Pharmacological inhibition of Rab5A also decreased replication in a dose-dependent manner.

Co-localisation studies suggest Rab5A and early endosomes as scaffolds for HEV replication complexes, shedding light on HEV lifecycle and host interactions essential for infection.

The study was published yesterday in PNAS: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2307423120

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