New Window Into Hepatitis B in Africa: Liver Sampling Combined With Single-Cell Omics Enables Deep and Longitudinal Assessment of Intrahepatic Immunity in Zambia.

Musonda, Taonga; Wallace, Michael S; Patel, Hailey; Martin, Owen P; Oetheimer, Christopher; Mwakamui, Simutanyi; Sinkala, Edford; Nsokolo, Bright et al. · J Infect Dis · 2024

prospective_cohort · Level II

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Abstract

In Lusaka, Zambia, we introduced liver fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) into a research cohort of adults with treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection, as well as with acute HBV infection. From 117 enrollment and 47 longitudinal FNABs (at 1-year follow-up), we established participant acceptability and safety. We also demonstrated the quality of the material through single-cell RNA sequencing of selected enrollment FNAs, which revealed a range of immune cells. This approach can drive new insights into HBV immunology, informing cure strategies, and can improve our understanding of HBV natural history in Africa.

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