Antibiotic-induced gut bacteria depletion has no effect on HBV replication in HBV immune tolerance mouse model

Yanan Bu; Kaitao Zhao; Zaichao Xu; Yingcheng Zheng; Rong Hua; Chuanjian Wu; Chengliang Zhu; Yuchen Xia; Xiaoming Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.virs.2023.04.010

June 2023

Citation: Yanan Bu, Kaitao Zhao, Zaichao Xu, Yingcheng Zheng, Rong Hua, Chuanjian Wu, Chengliang Zhu, Yuchen Xia, Xiaoming Cheng. Antibiotic-induced gut bacteria depletion has no effect on HBV replication in HBV immune tolerance mouse model .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2023, 38(3) : 335-343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2023.04.010

Antibiotic-induced gut bacteria depletion has no effect on HBV replication in HBV immune tolerance mouse model

Yanan Bu ^a ,
Kaitao Zhao ^a ,
Zaichao Xu ^a ,
Yingcheng Zheng ^a ,
Rong Hua ^a ,
Chuanjian Wu ^a ,
Chengliang Zhu ^b ,
Yuchen Xia ^{a
,,} ,
Xiaoming Cheng ^{c
,,}

a. State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China;
b. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China;
c. Department of Pathology, Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China

Corresponding author: Yuchen Xia, yuchenxia@whu.edu.cn
Xiaoming Cheng, xiaoming.cheng@whu.edu.cn
Received Date: 29 January 2023
Accepted Date: 26 April 2023
Available online: 02 May 2023

Abstract

Commensal microbiota is closely related to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Gut bacteria maturation accelerates HBV immune clearance in hydrodynamic injection (HDI) HBV mouse model. However, the effect of gut bacteria on HBV replication in recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-HBV mouse model with immune tolerance remains obscure. We aim to investigate its role on HBV replication in AAV-HBV mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were administrated with broad-spectrum antibiotic mixtures (ABX) to deplete gut bacteria and intravenously injected with AAV-HBV to establish persistent HBV replication. Gut microbiota community was analyzed by fecal qPCR assay and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. HBV replication markers in blood and liver were determined by ELISA, qPCR assay and Western blot at indicated time points. Immune response in AAV-HBV mouse model was activated through HDI of HBV plasmid or poly(I:C) and then detected by quantifying the percentage of IFN-γ⁺/CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen via flow cytometry as well as the splenic IFN-γ mRNA level via qPCR assay. We found that antibiotic exposure remarkably decreased gut bacteria abundance and diversity. Antibiotic treatment failed to alter the levels of serological HBV antigens, intrahepatic HBV RNA transcripts and HBc protein in AAV-HBV mouse model, but contributed to HBsAg increase after breaking of immune tolerance. Overall, our data uncovered that antibiotic-induced gut bacteria depletion has no effect on HBV replication in immune tolerant AAV-HBV mouse model, providing new thoughts for elucidating the correlation between gut bacteria dysbiosis by antibiotic abuse and clinical chronic HBV infection.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- , Gut bacteria
- , Antibiotic mixtures (ABX)
- , Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-HBV mouse model
- , Persistent HBV replication
- , Chronic HBV infection

Electronic Supplementary Material

10.1016j.virs.2023.04.010-ESM.docx
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