title: Targeting the Achilles heel of the hepatitis B virus: a review of current treatments against covalently closed circular DNA.
abstract: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) often leads to the development of liver cancer and cirrhosis, creating immense sociological, clinical and economic burdens worldwide. Although current anti-HBV medications manage to control the disease progression and help restore normal liver functions, they often fail to eliminate the virus completely. A major reason for this failure is the presence of a stable viral genome in the hepatocyte nucleus: the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Targeting HBV cccDNA is a promising approach that could lead to a complete cure. Here, we review various research approaches that are directed toward eliminating HBV cccDNA. This is a brief, yet comprehensive, summary of current state-of-the-art developments in this emerging area of interest.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Marawan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Molecular Model Discovery Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Katz Centre for Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Aviad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Katz Centre for Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Yomna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eltayebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Katz Centre for Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Katz Centre for Health Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lorne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: kbarakat@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barakat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D015195:Drug Design; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D012074:Remission Induction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral