Hepatitis-B virus: replication cycle, targets, and antiviral approaches

Nour Nasser1, Pierre Tonnerre2, Abdellah Mansouri1

  • 1Université Paris-Cité, Centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, Inserm U1149, Paris, France; Department of Hepatology, AP-HP, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France.

Current Opinion in Virology
|September 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis-B virus (HBV) infection affects millions, causing liver cancer. Current treatments require lifelong therapy, but new antiviral drugs and immunotherapies offer hope for a potential cure.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Hepatitis-B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health issue, with 257 million chronic carriers and 1 million annual deaths, primarily from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • Current nucleotide analog treatments improve prognosis and reduce HCC risk but necessitate lifelong adherence.
  • Understanding HBV replication and host immune responses is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the HBV replication cycle.
  • To summarize current treatment modalities for HBV infection.
  • To discuss emerging antiviral targets and therapies aimed at achieving an HBV cure.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of HBV replication, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies.
  • Analysis of ongoing clinical trials and preclinical research on direct-acting antivirals (DAA) and immunomodulatory therapies.
  • Synthesis of information on potential drug targets and novel antiviral approaches.

Main Results:

  • HBV replication involves complex interactions between viral proteins and host cellular machinery.
  • Nucleotide analogs offer long-term control but not a definitive cure.
  • Combination therapies, including DAAs and immunomodulation, show promise for increased cure rates.

Conclusions:

  • Achieving a functional cure for HBV remains a significant challenge.
  • Further research into HBV's life cycle and host immunity is essential for identifying new therapeutic targets.
  • Novel antiviral strategies and combination therapies represent the most promising path towards a curative treatment for chronic HBV infection.

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