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Updated: Feb 28, 2026

A Cell Culture Model for Producing High Titer Hepatitis E Virus Stocks
Published on: June 26, 2020
Nucleoside analogue 2'-C-methylcytidine inhibits hepatitis E virus replication but antagonizes ribavirin
Changbo Qu1, Lei Xu1, Yuebang Yin1
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Room Na-621 's Gravendijkwal 230, NL-3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has emerged as a global health issue, but no approved medication is available. The nucleoside analogue 2'-C-methylcytidine (2CMC), a viral polymerase inhibitor, has been shown to inhibit infection with a variety of viruses, including hepatitis C virus (HCV). Here, we report that 2CMC significantly inhibits the replication of HEV in a subgenomic replication model and in a system using a full-length infectious virus. Importantly, long-term treatment with 2CMC did not result in a loss of antiviral potency, indicating a high barrier to drug resistance development. However, the combination of 2CMC with ribavirin, an off-label treatment for HEV, exerts antagonistic effects. Our results indicate that 2CMC serves as a potential antiviral drug against HEV infection.
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