586 METHODS FOR VIRAL POPULATION RECONSTRUCTION VIA ULTRA-DEEP PYROSEQUENCING: HEPATITIS B VIRUS CASE STUDY

05a: VIRAL HEPATITIS -a) HEPATITIS B -EXPERIMENTAL S215 viral titers were determined by real time PCR.IFN-alpha concentration was determined by the cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay.Serum viral load was determined by qPCR after viral DNA purification from serum samples.Results: AAV constitutively expressing murine IFN-alpha was able to inhibit HBV viral replication to undetectable levels in HBV transgenic mice, while the administration of AAV expressing luciferase had no effect over viral replication.However, prolonged IFN-alpha expression resulted in severe side effects as shown by a profound leukopenia that led to animals death.Experiments are now being performed to determine the antiviral efficacy and safety of the AAV vector expressing IFN-alpha in an inducible manner.