Co-infection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and malaria: from population level to immunological and cellular interaction

Lead Applicant: Prof. Dr. Volker Heussler

Institute of Cell Biology (IZB)

Co-Lead Applicant: Prof. Dr. med. Gilles Wandeler, Dept. Infectious Diseases

Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital Bern

Co-Applicant: Prof. Dr. Olivier Guenat

ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research

Malaria and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are among the most common infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and disproportionally affect young children. We will investigate Malaria/HBV coinfections at an epidemiological, an immunological and a cellular level. Blood serum of malaria-infected children in Kenya will be analyzed for HBV infection and their immune status. The main question is whether HBV co-infection is associated with severe malaria. To investigate how liver cells react to co-infection with malaria and HBV, and to analyze the immune response they provoke, we will use liver-on-chip technology and the rodent malaria model.