Dao Thi Lab

We study hepatitis E virus – host interactions using stem cell-derived culture systems at Heidelberg University Hospital.

Discover our work
CIID building, Heidelberg University Hospital

An international team of molecular virologists

We are an international team of scientists who enjoy studying viruses. We use stem cell-derived culture systems to study hepatitis E virus-host interactions.

Our lab is part of the Center of Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID) at the Heidelberg University Hospital. Our research is generously supported by the Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation.

Our research

Who we are

Dao Thi Lab team photo
Viet Loan Dao Thi
Viet Loan Dao Thi, PhD
Principal Investigator
Andrew Freistaedter
Andrew Freistaedter, MSc
Lab manager
Huanting Chi
Huanting Chi, MSc
Postdoctoral fellow
Jun-Gen Hu
Jun-Gen Hu, MSc
PhD student
Sarah Prallet
Sarah Prallet
PhD student
Patrick Bröscky
Patrick Bröscky
PhD student
Paula Jordan
Paula Jordan, MSc
PhD student
Elif Toprak
Elif Toprak, MSc
PhD student
Tobias Walczuch
Tobias Walczuch, MSc
PhD student

Our work

Using stem cell-derived systems to unravel the hepatitis E virus life cycle.

With about 20 million infections each year, hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents a significant global health burden. Despite growing awareness, the comprehension of this virus and its life cycle at the molecular level remains scarce. A contributing factor is the necessity to grow the virus in cell culture systems usually based on aberrant cancer cells.

In order to overcome these limitations, we use embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cell (hESC/iPSC)-derived cell culture models, in particular stem-cell derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs).

Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to hepatocyte-like cells
Figure 1: Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (embryonic or induced, hESC/iPSCs) to hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs; Wu & Dao Thi et al. 2018, Gastroenterology).

HEV is a positive-strand RNA, non-enveloped virus (nHEV), which gains a membranous host-derived envelope when budding from cells — called quasi-enveloped HEV (eHEV). The projects in our lab are geared towards studying the role of the quasi-envelope during different HEV life cycle steps: entry, innate immune sensing, assembly, and secretion in and from polarized cells. We further explore novel treatment options.

HEV life cycle and transmission
Figure 2: HEV life cycle and transmission (adapted from Fu et al., 2019). (A) e/nHEV particles infect hepatocytes through their basolateral membrane. (B) Replication of the HEV genome mediated by nonstructural proteins. (C) Subgenomic RNA is translated into ORF2 capsid protein and ORF3 protein. (D) Progeny HEV particles bud into multivesicular bodies mediated by the interaction of ORF3 with the ESCRT machinery. (E) Basolaterally secreted eHEV particles circulate in the bloodstream. (F) Apically secreted particles mature into nHEV particles. (G) eHEV particles enter through clathrin-dependent endocytosis.

Project examples

Our work is funded by generous grants from

Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation Baden-Wurttemberg Stiftung DZIF SFB1129 TRR179

Open positions

We are always looking for motivated scientists to join our team.

Please check back later for future opportunities.

Selected publications

Lab members highlighted in bold.

2026
Prallet S, Maier N, Li A, Afting C, Huang HE, Hu J, Toprak E, Keya DP, Colasanti O, León-Janampa N, Marlet J, Beisel C, Mogler C, Puchas P, Behrendt P, Boettler T, Steinmann E, Saha S, Laketa V, Lohmann V, Wittbrodt J, Hermann C, Dill MT, Dao Thi VL. (2026). Hepatitis E virus replication is maintained in proliferative cells within the intestinal crypt. Sci. Adv. 12(14):eaeb2333 PubMed
Hu J, Liu T, Klöhn M, Freistaedter A, Toprak E, Chi H, Gömer A, Pottkaemper L, Jordan P, Yang X, Zhang H, Becker J, Nkongolo S, Lohmann V, Steinmann E, Wang L, Dao Thi VL. (2026). Nucleotide analogue bemnifosbuvir inhibits hepatitis E virus replication in preclinical models. Gut gutjnl-2025-336714 PubMed
2025
Mehnert AK, Stegmaier S, Ramirez Alvarez C, Toprak E, Magalhães VG, Siebenkotten C, Hu J, Costa AL, Kirrmaier D, Knop M, Wu X, Tubiana T, Herrmann C, Binder M, Dao Thi VL. (2025). The hepatitis E virus capsid protein ORF2 counteracts cell-intrinsic antiviral responses to enable persistent replication in cell culture. PLoS Pathog. 21(9):e1013516 PubMed
Fu R, Jordan P, Engels Z, Weihs JA, Mürle J, Chi H, Burbano de Lara S, Helm B, Klöhn M, Hu J, Freistaedter A, Boettler T, Binder M, Klingmüller U, Steinmann E, Lozach PY, Tubiana T, Lemon SM, Dao Thi VL. (2025). Integrin beta 1 facilitates non-enveloped hepatitis E virus cell entry through the recycling endosome. Nat Commun. 16(1):5403 PubMed
Ssebyatika G, Dinkelborg K, Ströh LJ, Hinte F, Corneillie L, Hueffner L, Guzman EM, Nankya PL, Plückebaum N, Fehlau L, Garn J, Meyer N, Prallet S, Mehnert AK, Kraft ARM, Verhoye L, Jacobsen C, Steinmann E, Wedemeyer H, Viejo-Borbolla A, Dao Thi VL, Pietschmann T, Lütgehetmann M, Meuleman P, Dandri M, Krey T, Behrendt P. (2025). Broadly neutralizing antibodies isolated from HEV convalescents confer protective effects in human liver-chimeric mice. Nat Commun. 16(1):1995 PubMed
2024
Chi H, Qu B, Prawira A, Richardt T, Maurer L, Fu R, Lempp FA, Zhang Z, Grimm D, Wu X, Urban S, Dao Thi VL (2024). An hepatitis B and D virus infection model using human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes. EMBO Rep. 25(10):4311–4336 PubMed
Klöhn M, Burkard T, Janzen J, Haase JA, Gömer A, Fu R, Ssebyatika G, Nocke MK, Brown RJP, Krey T, Dao Thi VL, Kinast V, Brüggemann Y, Todt D, Steinmann E. (2024). Targeting cellular cathepsins inhibits hepatitis E virus entry. Hepatology 80(5):1239–1251 PubMed
2023
Csernalabics B, Marinescu MS, Maurer L, Kelsch L, Werner J, Baumann K, Zoldan K, Panning M, Reuken P, Bruns T, Bengsch B, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Dao Thi VL, Boettler T. (2023). Efficient formation and maintenance of humoral and CD4 T-cell immunity targeting the viral capsid in acute-resolving hepatitis E infection. J Hepatol. 80(4):564–575 PubMed
Schrader JA, Burkard TL, Brüggemann Y, Goemer A, Meister TL, Fu R, Mehnert AK, Dao Thi VL, Behrendt P, Durantel D, Broering R, Vondran FWR, Todt D, Kinast V, Steinmann E. (2023). EGF receptor modulates HEV entry in human hepatocytes. Hepatology. 77(6):2104–2117 PubMed
2022
Maurer L, El Andari J, Rapti K, Spreyer L, Steinmann E, Grimm D, Dao Thi VL (2022). Induction of Hepatitis E virus anti-ORF3 antibodies from systemic administration of a muscle-specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. Viruses 14(2), 266 Journal
2021
Zhang C, Freistaedter A, Schmelas C, Gunkel M, Dao Thi VL, Grimm D (2021). An RNA interference/adeno-associated virus vector-based combinatorial gene therapy approach against Hepatitis E virus. Hepatol Commun. 6(4):878–888 PubMed
Bove G, Mehnert A-K, Dao Thi VL (2021). Chapter 7, iPSCs for modeling hepatotropic pathogen infections. Advances in Stem Cell Biology, Academic Press, Volume 8, p. 149–213. Science Direct
Herbst K, Meurer M, Kirrmaier D, Anders S, Knop M, Dao Thi VL (2021). Colorimetric RT-LAMP and LAMP-sequencing for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Clinical Samples. Bio Protoc. 11(6):e3964 Bio Protoc
2020
Dao Thi VL, Herbst K, Boerner K, Meurer M, Kremer LPM, Kirrmaier D, Freistaedter A, Papagiannidis D, Galmozzi C, Stanifer ML, Boulant S, Klein S, Chlanda P, Khalid D, Miranda IB, Schnitzler P, Kräusslich H-G, Knop M, Anders S (2020). A colorimetric RT-LAMP assay and LAMP-sequencing for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples. Science Translational Medicine. 12:eabc7075 Sci Trans Med
Klein S, Müller TG, Khalid D, Sonntag-Buck V, Heuser A-M, Glass B, Meurer M, Morales I, Schillak A, Freistaedter A, Ambiel I, Winter SL, Zimmermann L, Naumoska T, Bubeck F, Kirrmaier D, Ullrich S, Barreto Miranda I, Anders S, Grimm D, Schnitzler P, Knop M, Kräusslich H-G, Dao Thi VL, Börner K, Chlanda P (2020). SARS-CoV-2 RNA Extraction Using Magnetic Beads for Rapid Large-Scale Testing by RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP. Viruses. 12:863 Viruses
Dao Thi VL, Wu X, Belote RL, Andreo U, Takacs CN, Fernandez JP, Vale-Silva LA, Prallet S, Decker CC, Fu RM, Qu B, Uryu K, Molina H, Saeed M, Steinmann E, Urban S, Singaraja RR, Schneider WM, Simon SM, Rice CM (2020). Stem cell-derived polarized hepatocytes. Nature Communications. 11:1677 Nat Comm
2019
Fu RM, Decker CC, Dao Thi VL (2019). Cell Culture Models for Hepatitis E Virus. Viruses. 11:608 Viruses
Wang J, Qu B, Zhang F, Zhang C, Deng W, Dao Thi VL, Xia Y (2019). Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocyte-Like Cells as Model for Viral Hepatitis Research. Stem Cells International. 2019:9605252 Journal
2018
Dao Thi VL, Wu X, Rice CM (2018). Stem cell-derived culture models of hepatitis E virus infection. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. a031799 PubMed
Wu X*, Dao Thi VL*, Liu P, Takacs CN, Xiang K, Andrus L, Gouttenoire J, Moradpour D, Rice CM (2018). Pan-Genotype Hepatitis E Virus Replication in Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocellular Systems. Gastroenterology. 154:663–674 PubMed
Todt D, Moeller N, Praditya D, Kinast V, Friesland M, Engelmann M, Verhoye L, Sayed IM, Behrendt P, Dao Thi VL et al. (2018). The natural compound silvestrol inhibits hepatitis E virus (HEV) replication in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Research. 157:151–158 PubMed
Knegendorf L, Drave SA, Dao Thi VL, Debing Y, Brown RJP, Vondran FWR, Resner K, Friesland M, Khera T, Engelmann M et al. (2018). Hepatitis E virus replication and interferon responses in human placental cells. Hepatology Communications. 2:173–187 PubMed
Wu X, Dao Thi VL, Huang Y, Billerbeck E, Saha D, Hoffmann H-H, Wang Y, Vale Silva LA, Sarbanes S, Sun T et al. (2018). Intrinsic immunity shapes viral resistance of stem cells. Cell. 172:423–438 PubMed
Chung H, Calis JJA, Wu X, Sun T, Yu Y, Sarbanes SL, Dao Thi VL, Shilvock AR, Hoffmann HH, Rosenberg BR et al. (2018). Human ADAR1 prevents endogenous RNA from triggering translational shutdown. Cell. 172:811–824 PubMed
Earlier
Takacs CN, Andreo U, Dao Thi VL, Wu X, Gleason CE, Itano MS, Spitz-Becker GS, Belote RL, Hedin BR, Scull MA et al. (2017). Differential regulation of lipoprotein and hepatitis C virus secretion by Rab1b. Cell Reports. 21:431–441 PubMed
Dao Thi VL, Debing Y, Wu X, Rice CM, Neyts J, Moradpour D, Gouttenoire J (2016). Sofosbuvir inhibits hepatitis E virus replication in vitro and results in an additive effect when combined with ribavirin. Gastroenterology. 150:82–85 PubMed
Hiroz P, Gouttenoire J, Dao Thi VL, Doerig C, Moradpour D, Sahli R, Telenti A (2013). Mise à jour sur l’hépatite E. Revue Médicale Suisse. 9:1594–1598 Journal
Molina-Jimenez F, Benedicto I, Dao Thi VL, Gondar V, Lavillette D, Marin JJ, Briz O, Moreno-Otero R, Aldabe R, Baumert TF, Cosset FL, Lopez-Cabrera M, Majano PL (2012). Matrigel-embedded 3D culture of Huh-7 cells as a hepatocyte-like polarized system to study hepatitis C virus cycle. Virology. 425:31–39 PubMed

Lab news

April 2026
Sarah’s paper is online in Science Advances.
March 2026
Jun-Gen’s paper is online in Gut. Press releases in English and German.
February 2026
Tobias joined the lab as a PhD student.
July 2025
Huanting is our newest PhD graduate — congratulations, Doctor Chi!
September 2025
Ann-Kathrin’s paper is online in PLOS Pathogens.
July 2025
Ann-Kathrin brilliantly defended her PhD — congratulations, Doctor Mehnert!
June 2025
Rebecca’s paper is online in Nature Communications.
BASF Firmencup 2025
June 2025: Thanks to Sarah, we participated in the BASF Firmencup again!
BASF Firmencup 2025
June 2025: Congrats to all the runners on finishing the race!
BASF Firmencup 2025
June 2025: Congrats to all the runners on finishing the race!
Lab hike April 2025
April 2025: Lab hike in the Wolf Canyon — organised by Niclas.
Lab hike April 2025
April 2025: Lab hike in the Wolf Canyon — organised by Niclas.
November 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Fu on successfully defending her PhD dissertation.
Laser tag 2024
October 2024: Laser tag fun at our latest lab outing.
Laser tag 2024
October 2024: Laser tag fun at our latest lab outing.
Laser tag 2024
October 2024: Laser tag fun at our latest lab outing.
October 2024
Elif and Paula joined the lab as PhD students.
September 2024
Huanting’s paper is online.
August 2024
Niclas Meier started his Master thesis in the lab.
July 2024
Congrats to Charlotte on the brilliant defense of her thesis.
Sarah award 2024
May 2024: Congrats to Sarah for a Young Scientist Award at the DZIF Translational Hepatitis Meeting.
Sarah award 2024
May 2024: Congrats to Sarah for a Young Scientist Award at the DZIF Translational Hepatitis Meeting.
GfV Vienna 2024
March 2024
Brilliant oral presentation by Ann-Kathrin at the GfV meeting in Vienna.
Bangladesh 2023
October 2023: Sarah visits the lab of Dr. Senjuti Saha in Dhaka, Bangladesh, supported by the GfV and TRR179.
Bangladesh 2023
October 2023: At the Child and Health Research Foundation.
Bangladesh 2023
October 2023: At the Child and Health Research Foundation.
Bangladesh 2023
October 2023: At the Child and Health Research Foundation.
EASL Vienna 2023
June 2023
With Rebecca and JunGen (and Clara) at the EASL in Vienna.
Bouldering 2023
May 2023: Bouldering with the lab!
Bouldering 2023
May 2023: Bouldering with the lab!
Bouldering 2023
May 2023: Bouldering with the lab!
Bouldering 2023
May 2023: Bouldering with the lab!
Bouldering 2023
May 2023: Bouldering with the lab!
ECV Poland 2023
May 2023: At the European Congress of Virology in Gdansk. Congrats to all presenters for winning travel grants!
Ann-Kathrin ECV
May 2023: Ann-Kathrin presenting her work on innate immune responses to HEV infections.
Jun-Gen ECV
May 2023: Jun-Gen presenting his ORF2 project.
Rebecca ECV
May 2023: Rebecca presenting her work on HEV cell entry.
SoV Ulm 2023
March 2023: At the Annual Meeting of the Society of Virology in Ulm.
Huanting SoV
March 2023: Huanting presenting in the big auditorium — congrats for winning a travel grant!
Zoe SoV
March 2023: Zoé presenting our HEV cell entry project.
Jun-Gen SoV
March 2023: Jun-Gen presenting his work on the HEV capsid protein ORF2.
January 2023
Patrick joined the lab as a PhD student.
September 2022
Congrats to Jun-Gen for being accepted at the EASL Basic Science School: Precision Cut Liver Slices and Liver Organoids.
July 2022
Zoé joined the lab as an MSc student.
HCVFlavi 2022
July 2022: With Rebecca, Jun-Gen, and Ann-Kathrin at the HCVFlavi meeting.
HCVFlavi award
July 2022: Congrats to Ann-Kathrin for winning a best pitch talk award!
ILC London 2022
June 2022: With Huanting and Sarah at the ILC in London.
ILC London Sarah
June 2022: Congrats to Sarah for winning a young investigator bursary!
May 2022
Valentina joined the lab as an MSc student.
January 2022
Lars’ paper is online.
October 2021
Cindy’s paper is online.
September 2021
Sarah joined the lab as a PhD student.
June 2021
Ann-Kathrin and Guglielmo’s book chapter is online.
February 2021
Jun-Gen joined the lab as a PhD student.
November 2020
Huanting joined the lab as a PhD student.
July 2020
Our contributions to overcome SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic shortages are online in Science Translational Medicine and Viruses.
April 2020
Ann-Kathrin joined the lab as a PhD student.
April 2020
Our paper in Nature Communications is online.
BASF 2019
June 2019: The lab participated in the BASF Firmencup race.
BASF 2019
June 2019: The lab participated in the BASF Firmencup race.
BASF 2019
June 2019: The lab participated in the BASF Firmencup race.
Essen 2019
February 2019: The lab attended the 1st Essen Hepatitis E meeting.
Cindy talk Essen
February 2019: Cindy gave a talk at the 1st Essen Hepatitis E meeting.
First group photo
February 2019
First group photo. Charlotte and Rebecca joined as our first PhD students.
Xmas 2018
December 2018: First Christmas dinner.
Xmas 2018
December 2018: First Christmas dinner.
Xmas 2018
December 2018: First Christmas dinner.
Xmas 2018
December 2018: First Christmas dinner.

Contact

Viet Loan Dao Thi

Viet Loan Dao Thi, PhD

Group Leader

Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID)
University Hospital Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 344
D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

+49 (0) 6221 567 865

VietLoan.DaoThi {at} med.uni-heidelberg.de