title: Treatment of hepatitis B virus: an update.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is a global health concern as it affects over 240 million people worldwide and an estimated 686,000 people die annually as a result of complications of the disease. With the development of newer antiviral drugs, viral suppression of HBV is achievable, however elimination of HBV from infected individuals (functional cure) remains an issue. Due to persistence of HBV DNA (cccDNA) in infected cells, chronically infected patients who discontinue therapy prior to HBsAg loss or seroconversion are likely to relapse. Several novel therapeutic strategies are being researched and studied in clinical trials. Here we review these novel strategies to achieve sustained cure or elimination of HBV. These strategies include the targeting of the host or viral factors required for viral persistence as well as therapeutic vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Haley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Care & Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Care & Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Bhawna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poonia
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Care & Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kottilil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: HBV; TLRs; Toll-like receptors; cccDNA; eradication; hepatitis B