What mechanisms do human liver cells use to respond to infection with the hepatitis E virus? And why is it that some types of this virus can be transmitted from animals to humans, whilst others cannot? This is the subject of research being carried out by virologist Dr Volker Kinast from School V - School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Oldenburg. To expand his research, he has now been awarded a ‘Carl von Ossietzky Young Researchers’ Fellowship’ by the University of Oldenburg. “With this grant, we recognise outstanding researchers who are conducting research in promising fields. Over the three-year funding period, they can both advance their research and prepare proposals for longer-term external funding,” explains Prof. Dr Ralf Grüttemeier, Vice-President for Research and Transfer at the University.
Kinast’s research focuses on hepatitis E viruses (HEV), which, like SARS-CoV-2 – the pathogen that causes COVID-19 – are RNA viruses, meaning they have a genome composed of ribonucleic acid. Depending on the genotype, hepatitis E viruses are transmitted from person to person via contact infection or contaminated drinking water, or are passed from animals to humans through the consumption of meat, particularly raw pork. Although HEV is the most common cause of viral hepatitis worldwide, it often goes unnoticed because specific symptoms frequently do not occur. However, HEV can have serious consequences for people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women, and can cause liver failure.
Kinast and his team aim to investigate the fundamental interactions between host and virus. To this end, he is focusing in particular on the genotypes of HEV that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The Oldenburg-based virologist aims to discover how the virus makes the transition from an animal to a human host, which factors facilitate this process, and how the virus manages to overcome the innate immune defence. Furthermore, Kinast and his team are taking a closer look at the defence mechanisms of infected cells. The focus is on the question of how cells can protect themselves against infection. Understanding these processes should, in the long term, help to develop effective drugs against the infection.
Kinast studied biology at the University of Cologne and obtained his Master’s degree in biomedicine at Hannover Medical School, where he also completed his PhD in 2020. He then worked as a researcher at the University of Bochum before moving to University Medicine Oldenburg in 2022. There, he conducts research in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology led by Prof. Dr Axel Hamprecht. His team comprises two PhD students and one Master’s student.