title: Prospects for a vaccine against the hepatitis C virus.
abstract: The recent discovery of natural immunity to the hepatitis C virus and vaccine efficacy in the chimpanzee challenge model has allowed optimism about the development of at least a partly effective vaccine against this heterogeneous pathogen that is responsible for much of the chronic liver disease around the world. The immune systems of some infected individuals can spontaneously clear the virus, whereas other people need treatment with antivirals that work partly by stimulating humoral and cellular immune responses. Therefore, therapeutic vaccine strategies are also being pursued to improve treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: Chiron Corporation, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, California 94608, USA. michael_houghton@chiron.com
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abrignani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines