Control and Eradication Strategies of Hepatitis B Virus.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen, and chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis and malignant hepatocellular carcinoma. While HBV vaccine and treatment are available, it has remained a challenge to completely eradicate the virus from patients. Current therapy using either interferon or polymerase inhibitors cannot cure HBV with a high efficacy. Lifelong therapy is needed to suppress HBV in patients who achieve no seroconversion. Here, we review recent exciting advances of new strategies, including the inhibition of viral entry, the destruction or silencing of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), and breaking immune tolerance. Combinations of different therapeutic strategies could improve the cure rate of viral persistence in chronic hepatitis B.
Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: cshih@ibms.sinica.edu.tw.
Chiaho
C
Shih
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shu-Fan
SF
Chou
Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ching-Chun
CC
Yang
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jyun-Yuan
JY
Huang
Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Gansukh
G
Choijilsuren
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
Ren-Shiang
RS
Jhou
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects; D057074:Virus Release / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
chronic infection; combination therapy; covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA); hepatitis B virus; immune tolerance; viral entry