title: Evolution in Our Understanding of Hepatitis B Virus Virology and Immunology.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health challenge. HBV can cause significant morbidity and mortality by establishing acute and chronic hepatitis. Approximately 250 million people worldwide are chronically infected, and more than 2 billion people have been exposed to HBV. Since the discovery of HBV, the advances in our understanding of HBV virology and immunology have translated into effective vaccines and therapies for HBV infection. Although current therapies successfully suppress viral replication but rarely succeed in viral eradication, recent discoveries in HBV virology and immunology provide exciting rationales for novel treatment strategies aiming at HBV cure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 331 Biomedical Research Building II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bengsch
authors.affiliation: Medical Research, Philadelphia Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center (CMC VAMC), A424, University and Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: kmchang@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Kyong-Mi
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
keywords: B and T cell responses to HBV; Hepatitis B virus; Immunobiology; Immunotherapy; Pathogenesis; Therapeutic vaccination; Translational hepatology; cccDNA