Hepatitis B Virus Induces Microtubule Stabilization to Promote Productive Infection through Upregulating Microtubule-associated Protein 1S.

These results demonstrate that HBx induces the formation of stable MTs to promote the release of HBV particles through upregulating MAP1S. Thus, our studies delineate a unique molecular pathway through which HBV manipulates the cytoskeleton to facilitate its own transportation, and indicate the possibility of targeting MAP1S pathway for treatment of patients with CHB.