Applications:The invention generates a novel mouse model of acute and chronic T cell mediated hepatitis, which shares some important features with viral hepatitis in man. The mouse model is valuable in identifying drug targets for viral hepatitis.Advantages:The mouse model is driven directly by CD8+ T cell and results from the recognition of an antigen that is expressed in a minority of hepatocytes. The mouse model does not depend on transgenic expression of the antigen and is not complicated by immune self-tolerance. The model results in the induction of genes associated with liver fibrosis.