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Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant cause of acute viral hepatitis, particularly in developing countries where it is responsible for large outbreaks and sporadic cases. The virus is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, often through contaminated water. HEV is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Hepeviridae family. It has a global distribution, with genotype 1 and 2 strains primarily found in humans, and genotype 3 and 4 strains capable of infecting both humans and animals, leading to zoonotic transmission. Despite its public health importance, the molecular mechanisms governing HEV entry into host cells remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap is exacerbated by the absence of a clearly identified cellular receptor and the limited availability of suitable experimental systems to study the early stages of the viral life cycle. Understanding HEV entry is crucial for the development of targeted antiviral therapies and effective preventive strategies. In the first part