Sveučilište u Zagrebu Medicinski fakultet

Human viral hepatitis results from a wide range of pathogens beyond the classic primary hepatotropic viruses such as hepatitis A-E. Neglected secondary hepatotropic viruses (HVs) such as human herpes viruses 6/7 (HHV-6, HHV-7), parvovirus B19 (B19V), bocavirus (HBoV) may cause hepatic injury ranging from mild to fulminant hepatitis. In the impaired immunological setting, such as in patients after solid-organ transplantation (SOT) or after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), they may have particular effects and result in prolonged and disseminated disease. Several candidate viruses remain to be investigated as possible liver pathogens, including torque-teno virus (TTV), SEN virus (SENV), human pegivirus (HPgV), and non-primate hepaciviruses (NPHV).

Given that Croatia has a high HSCT activity and one of the highest liver (32.20 pmp) and kidney (43.40 pmp) transplantation rates in the world, it would be of particular importance to investigate the impact of HVs in the context of transplantation outcomes.

This prospective study will include SOT (liver/kidney) and HSCT candidates in order to identify the prevalence of nine emerging and neglected hepatotropic viruses (HEV, HHV-6, HHV-7, B19V, HBoV, TTV, SENV, HPgV, NPHV) before and within the first year after transplantation by detection of viral DNA/RNA and specific antibodies. The explanted liver samples after LT will also be tested. It is important to note that secondary HVs are not included in routine diagnostic testing; therefore, no or scarce data exist regarding the epidemiology in the region. The study will define the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and impact of hepatotropic viruses in the pre-and post-transplant setting to improve transplant outcomes. Detection and genetic characterization of new HVs will enable a better understanding of the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Croatia and South-East Europe, which will set a platform to improve public health measures and post-transplant management and outcomes.

PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS

Anna Mrzljak, Assoc. Prof. MD, Principal Investigator

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=z6kk_pUAAAAJ

Ljubo Barbić, Prof. DVM, Investigator

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=D5FtYWsAAAAJ

Maja Bogdanić, MD, PhD Student, Investigator

Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maja-Bogdanic-2

Maja Ilić, MD, Investigator

Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maja-Ilic-4

Ana Bainrauch (Jelić), MD, PhD Student, Investigator

Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ana-Jelic

Lorena Jemeršić, Assoc. Prof. DVM, Investigator

Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=np2ju6cAAAAJ

Željka Jureković, MD, Investigator

Merkur University Hospital

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeljka-jurekovic-27629217/?originalSubdomain=hr

Manuela Miletić, PhD, Investigator

Croatian Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manuela-Miletic

Danko Mikulić, MD, PhD, Investigator

Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Danko-Mikulic

Karla Mišura, MD, PhD Student, Investigator

Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karla-mi%C5%A1ura-a9881661/?originalSubdomain=hr

Slobodanka Ostojić Kolonić, Prof. MD, Investigator      

Medical School University of Zagreb

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=x4K3UbEAAAAJ

Nenad Pandak, MD, PhD, Investigator 

The Royal Hospital Muscat, Oman

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=H417ccUAAAAJ

Jadranka Pavičić Šarić, Assist. Prof. MD, Investigator

Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=zgJLC3sAAAAJ

Vladimir Savić   Assist. Prof. DVM, Investigator

Croatian Veterinary Institute

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=z4RzuRcAAAAJ

Vladimir Stevanović, Assist. Prof. DVM,  Investigator

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=AdTWhn8AAAAJ

Tatjana Vilibić Čavlek, Assoc. Prof. MD,               Investigator

Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=oEd2oVMAAAAJ

Adriana Vince, Prof. MD, Investigator  

School of Medicine, University of Zagreb

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=F5oKXo8AAAAJ

Project duration: 48 months (01.01.2021. – 01.12.2024.)

Project funding: 1,500.000 HRK