Anup Pathania, PhD

Instructor

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Laboratory of Natalia Osna, PhD

Research Interests

HBV is a serious liver infection that affects millions worldwide. Despite a vaccine, chronic HBV infection remains incurable. Alcohol and fatty liver disease can worsen HBV outcomes, but the mechanisms are unclear. My research focuses on understanding how chronic HBV infection progresses to liver disease, particularly when combined with factors like alcohol consumption and fatty liver disease. This research aims to improve our understanding of how HBV interacts with alcohol and fatty liver disease to develop better treatment strategies for chronic HBV infection.

Ongoing Projects

Unmasking the Mechanisms of Alcohol and Fat-Mediated HBV Progression

My research investigates how alcohol and fatty acids impact the body's immune response to HBV infection, potentially accelerating disease progression. I focus on the role of innate immune responses, particularly those stimulated by anti-viral interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), which protect liver cells (hepatocytes) from HBV infection. My aim is to understand how alcohol and fatty acids affect this antiviral immune response in HBV-infected liver cells.

Unveiling the Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in HBV Control During Alcohol and Fat Exposure

Liver cells infected with the virus can prompt immune cells, such as macrophages, to aid in combating the infection. Communication via extracellular vesicles facilitates interaction between HBV-activated macrophages and HBV-infected hepatocytes. I am investigating how exposure to ethanol and fats disrupts this crucial communication pathway, potentially facilitating the virus's spread within the liver.

Testing of Novel Long-Acting Anti-HBV and Anti-Fibrotic Drugs

Effective treatment of HBV requires strict adherence to antiviral therapy to suppress viral replication and thwart the development of drug-resistant mutations. Failure to achieve optimal suppression of HBV can result in severe liver complications. Therefore, there is a critical demand for potent, long-lasting anti-HBV therapies to address this challenge. For long-acting anti-HBV drugs, the goal is to suppress viral replication, reduce liver inflammation, and prevent the progression of liver disease caused by HBV infection. Anti-fibrotic drugs aim to slow down or reverse the process of fibrosis, which involves the formation of excessive scar tissue in the liver or other organs.