title: Adaptive immunity in HBV infection.
abstract: During hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the presence of HBV-specific antibody producing B cells and functional HBV-specific T cells (with helper or cytotoxic effects) ultimately determines HBV infection outcome. In this review, in addition to summarizing the present state of knowledge of HBV-adaptive immunity, we will highlight controversies and uncertainties concerning the HBV-specific B and T lymphocyte response, and propose future directions for research aimed at the generation of more efficient immunotherapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore. Electronic address: antonio@duke-nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoletti
authors.affiliation: Divisione Malattie Infettive, Ospdale Maggiore Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Antiviral immunity; B lymphocytes; Immunodominance; T cell exhaustion; T lymphocytes