While at present, the interaction of viral proteins with the BMP signalling pathway has not been widely examined in the context of virus-associated malignancies, one study has reported the ability of the hepatitis B virus-encoded oncoprotein pX to activate BMP2-induced transcription in vivo, providing a potential contributory factor to hepatitis B virus-induced liver fibrosis [88]. The gene discussed is BMP2; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.