CULTURED CELL LINE THAT INDUCIBLY EXPRESSES THE HEPATITIS B VIRUS GENOME, AND USES THEREOF FOR SCREENING ANTIVIRAL SUBSTANCES

摘要

Novel cell lines and methods are provided for inducibly expressing the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome within cultured cells. Cells are stably transformed with an HBV genome under control of an operator/promoter target sequence which can activate expression of the HBV genome when bound by a cognate transactivator protein. The cell lines are also stably transformed with a gene that encodes and expresses a suitable transactivator protein. Cells may be maintained under non-inducing conditions whereby the transactivator protein is unable to interact with the operator/promoter target sequence, so the HBV genome is not expressed. Under appropriate inducing conditions, the transactivator protein is enabled to interact with the operator/promoter target sequence, thereby activating expression of the HBV genome. The inducible system provides an effective and rapid cell-based assay to screen compounds for anti-hepadnaviral activity.