This study evaluates the antiviral activity of the monoclonal antibody 7-4G against HBsAg in a mouse model of chronic HBV infection, showing significant reduction in viral markers.

bioRxiv · Jul 26, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Identification of molecular determinants governing KIF4 cargo recognition of NTCP and their role in HBV/HDV infection

Sameh A. Gad, Doaa A Abo Elwafa, Masaaki Toyama, Mitsunori Ikeguchi, Ikuo Shoji, Kazuaki Chayama, Masanori Isogawa, Takaji Wakita, Hussein Hassan Aly

The paper identifies a leucine-rich motif in NTCP essential for KIF4-mediated trafficking and HBV/HDV infection, revealing a conserved cargo recognition mechanism shared with integrin β1.

bioRxiv · Feb 26, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology

Modeling of hepatitis B virus infection spread in primary human hepatocytes

Zhenzhen Shi, Masataka Tsuge, Nicholson T. Collier, Yasue Takeuchi, Takuro Uchida, Carolyn M. Rutter, Yuji Teraoka, Susan L. Uprichard, Yuji Ishida, Chise Tateno, Jonathan Ozik, Harel Dahari, Kazuaki Chayama

The paper models HBV infection spread in primary human hepatocytes using agent-based modeling, identifying viral kinetic patterns and estimating the efficacy of an entry inhibitor.

Journal of Virology · Aug 4, 2025Peer-reviewedSystems Biology

RXR agonist S169 inhibits HBV/HDV entry in vitro by disrupting KIF4-dependent NTCP trafficking.

Sameh A. Gad, Doaa A Abo Elwafa, Saied A. Hussein, Kento Fukano, Takanobu Kato, Ikuo Shoji, Kazuaki Chayama, Masamichi Muramatsu, Masanori Isogawa, Takaji Wakita, Daniel Merk, Hussein Hassan Aly

This study identifies S169, an RXR agonist, as an inhibitor of HBV/HDV entry by disrupting KIF4-dependent NTCP trafficking in human hepatocytes.

Antiviral Research · Jun 14, 2025Peer-reviewedMicrobiology

Multiphasic hepatitis B virus kinetic patterns in humanized chimeric mice can be explained via stochastic agent-based modeling of intracellular virion production cycles

Atesmachew Hailegiorgis, Yuji Ishida, Nicholson T. Collier, Michio Imamura, Zhenzhen Shi, Vladimir Reinharz, Masataka Tsuge, Danny Barash, Nobuhiko Hiraga, Hiroshi Yokomichi, Chise Tateno, Jonathan Ozik, Susan L. Uprichard, Kazuaki Chayama, Harel Dahari

The paper develops a stochastic agent-based model to explain multiphasic HBV kinetics in humanized mice by simulating intracellular virion production cycles.

bioRxiv · Jan 30, 2022 · PreprintSystems Biology

Understanding hepatitis B virus dynamics and the antiviral effect of interferon-alpha treatment in humanized chimeric mice

Laëtitia Canini, Yuji Ishida, Masataka Tsuge, Karina Durso-Cain, Tje Lin Chung, Chise Tateno, Alan S. Perelson, Susan L. Uprichard, Kazuaki Chayama, Harel Dahari

The paper models HBV kinetics in humanized mice treated with interferon-alpha, lamivudine, or both, revealing biphasic viral decline and distinct treatment effects on HBV DNA synthesis.

Journal of Virology · Apr 28, 2021Peer-reviewedSystems Biology

Large scale genome-wide association study in a Japanese population identified 45 novel susceptibility loci for 22 diseases

Kazuyoshi Ishigaki, Masato Akiyama, Masahiro Kanai, Atsushi Takahashi, Eiryo Kawakami, Hiroki Sugishita, Saori Sakaue, Nana Matoba, Siew‐Kee Low, Yukinori Okada, Chikashi C. Terao, Tiffany Amariuta, Steven Gazal, Yuta Kochi, Momoko Horikoshi, , Yoichiro Kamatani

A large-scale GWAS in 212,453 Japanese individuals identified 45 novel susceptibility loci for 22 diseases, highlighting the importance of non-European population studies.

Nature Genetics · Jun 8, 2020Peer-reviewedGenetics

Serum miR-379 expression is related to the development and progression of hypercholesterolemia in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Kinya Okamoto, Masahiko Koda, Toshiaki Okamoto, Takumi Onoyama, Kenichi Miyoshi, Manabu Kishina, Tomomitsu Matono, Jun Kato, Shiho Tokunaga, Takaaki Sugihara, Akira Hiramatsu, Hideyuki Hyogo, Hiroshi Tobita, Shuichi Sato, Miwa Kawanaka, , Hajime Isomoto

This study investigates miR-379 as a biomarker for NAFLD, finding it upregulated in patients and correlated with cholesterol levels.

PLoS ONE · Feb 27, 2020Peer-reviewedMolecular Biology