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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
Published on: December 15, 2023
Serological diagnostics of hepatitis E virus infection
Yury Khudyakov1, Saleem Kamili
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Virus Research
|June 28, 2011
Summary
Developing accurate hepatitis E virus (HEV) diagnostic assays is challenging. New antigens are needed to reliably detect acute, recent, and past HEV infections, improving diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Diagnostic Assay Development
Background:
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV) serological marker detection assays face challenges in sensitivity and specificity.
- Despite progress in understanding HEV antigenic structure and developing diagnostic antigens, significant issues persist.
- Viral genetic diversity and varied global HEV epidemiology complicate assay refinement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the challenges in developing accurate HEV diagnostic assays.
- To improve the identification of serological markers for acute, recent, and past HEV infections.
- To enhance the clinical and epidemiological utility of HEV serological diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Characterizing the antigenic structure of HEV proteins.
- Engineering highly immunoreactive diagnostic antigens.
- Devising efficient serological assays for HEV detection.
Main Results:
- Progress has been made in understanding HEV antigens and assay development over two decades.
- Outstanding issues regarding assay sensitivity and specificity in clinical settings remain.
- Viral complexity and heterogeneity present ongoing challenges.
Conclusions:
- Accurate HEV diagnostics require further development, particularly in antigen design.
- Specialized antigens are needed to differentiate acute, recent, and past HEV infections.
- Improved assays will enhance the accurate identification of HEV infection phases.
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