Prospects for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against hepatitis C virus.
Natural cross-protective immunity is induced after spontaneous clearance of primary hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Although this suggests that effective prophylactic vaccines against HCV are possible, there are still several areas that require further study. Current data indicate that, at best, vaccine-induced immunity may not completely prevent HCV infection but rather prevent persistence of the virus. However, this may be an acceptable goal, because chronic persistence of the virus is the main cause of pathogenesis and the development of serious liver conditions. Therapeutic vaccine development is also highly challenging; however, strategies have been pursued in combination with current or new treatments in an effort to reduce the costs and adverse effects associated with antiviral therapy. This review summarizes the current state of HCV vaccines and the challenges faced for future development and clinical trial design.
Division of Viral Products, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Stephen M
SM
Feinstone
Dale J
DJ
Hu
Marian E
ME
Major
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines