title: Antiviral strategies to eliminate hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA).
abstract: It has been over 50 years since the discovery of hepatitis B virus (HBV), yet 240 million people worldwide live with chronic HBV, resulting in up to 800000 deaths per year. A cure is yet to be achieved, due largely to a viral nuclear reservoir of transcriptionally active covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). While current antiviral therapies are effective at reducing viral replication, they have no impact on the existing cccDNA reservoir. Identifying mechanisms to either eliminate (complete cure) or inactivate (functional cure) HBV cccDNA are a major focus of HBV research worldwide. This review discusses recent advances in efforts to eliminate and/or regulate cccDNA, as well as future directions that may be considered in efforts to cure chronic HBV.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, 3000, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Peter.revill@mh.org.au.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Revill
authors.affiliation: Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, 3000, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Locarnini
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015195:Drug Design; D014943:Global Health; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral