# MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE HEPATITIS B-TYPE VIRUSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 1990 · $184,041

## Abstract

The hepadnaviruses are a group of hepatotropic DNA viruses
which produce acute and chronic infections of the liver and which
replicate their genomes by reverse transcription of RNA
intermediates.  The principal objectives of this program are to
elucidate the molecular mechanisms of hepadnavirus gene
expression and genome replication.  To achieve these objectives
we will employ two general strategies:  (1) biochemical analysis of
viral RNA and DNA synthesis in cultured cells transfected with
cloned viral DNA, and (2) genetic and biochemical analysis of the
replication of mutant viral genomes following  in vivo
transfection of intact animal hosts.

Using these systems, we propose to (1) screen existing cultured
cell lines for permissivity for the growth of animal
hepadnaviruses, (2) develop new strategies for the selection of
such permissive lines, (3) examine and define the cis- and trans-
acting components of the viral transcriptional program, (4) define
the signals which specify the correct processing and packaging of
viral RNA's, (5) explore the functions of the viral direct repeat
(DR) sequences and other cis-acting elements in viral genome
replication, and (6) clarify the strategies employed in the
expression of the viral pol and X gene products.  We will also
attempt to use this improved understanding of the hepadnavirus
life cycle to explore the possibility of generating replication-
competent hepadnaviruses which can deliver foreign DNA
sequences to liver cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128199
- **Project number:** 5R01AI018782-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KMH5K9V7S518
- **Principal Investigator:** DON GANEM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $184,041
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-09-01 → 1993-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128199

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128199, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE HEPATITIS B-TYPE VIRUSES (5R01AI018782-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128199. Licensed CC0.

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