Neutralizing hepatitis B

Despite an effective vaccine, hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a major public health threat since chronic infection leads to liver disease and cancer. Hehle et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20200840) discovered human-derived antibodies that potently neutralize the virus. Will this help a cure?

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Effects of Hepatitis B Virus Mutations on its Replication and Liver Disease Severity

The Open Virology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874357901307010012 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 12-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Abdulrahim Hakami ◽

Abdelwahid Ali ◽

Ahmed Hakami

Keyword(s):

Liver Disease ◽

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Disease Severity ◽

Chronic Infection ◽

Core Promoter ◽

Basal Core Promoter ◽

Double Mutation ◽

B Virus ◽

Genotype C

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), nowadays, is one of the major human pathogens worldwide. Approximately, 400 million people worldwide have chronic HBV infection. Only 5% of persons infected during adulthood develop chronic infection. The reverse is true for those infected at birth or in early childhood, i.e. more than 90% of these persons progress to chronic infection. Currently, eight different genotypes o f HBV have been identified, differing in nucleotide sequence by greater than 8%. In addition, numerous subgenotypes have a l s o been recognized based on the nucleotide sequence variability of 4- 8%. It has invariably been found that these genotypes and mutations play a pivotal role in the liver disease aggravation and virus replication. The precore mutations (G1896A) and the double mutation (T1762/A1764) in the basal core promoter are important mutations that alter expression of the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). The HBeAg is important for establishing viral persistence. The precore G1896A mutation abrogates the expression of HBeAg. Numerous other mutations alter the disease severity and progression. It is predictive that the infected patient has high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma if the genotype C is incriminated or if HBV possesses basal core promoter double mutation. Association of the remaining genotypes have been noted but with less degree than genotype C. Phenotypic assays of the different HBV protein markers with different molecular techniques illustrate the replication efficiency of the virus in cell lines. This review will discuss various mutations into their association with liver disease severity and progression as well as virus replication.

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Self-reported patient history to assess hepatitis B virus serological status during a large screening campaign

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268818002650 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 147 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Boyd ◽

J. Gozlan ◽

F. Carrat ◽

H. Rougier ◽

P.-M. Girard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Infection ◽

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽

Effective Vaccine ◽

Past Infection ◽

B Virus ◽

Vaccination History ◽

Screening Study ◽

Serological Result

AbstractWhen assessing hepatitis B virus (HBV) status in clinical settings, it is unclear whether self-reports on vaccination history and previous HBV-test results have any diagnostic capacity. Of 3997 participants in a multi-centre HBV-screening study in Paris, France, 1090 were asked questions on their last HBV-test result and vaccination history. Discordance between self-reported history compared with infection status (determined by serology) was calculated for participants claiming ‘negative’, ‘effective vaccine’, ‘past infection’, or ‘chronic infection’ HBV-status. Serological testing revealed that 320 (29.4%) were non-immunised, 576 (52.8%) were vaccinated, 173 (15.9%) had resolved the infection and 21 (1.9%) were hepatitis B surface antigen positive. In total 208/426 (48.8%) participants with a self-reported history of ‘negative’ infection had a discordant serological result, in whom 128 (61.5%) were vaccinated and 74 (35.6%) had resolved infections. A total of 153/599 (25.5%) participants self-reporting ‘effective vaccine’ had a discordant serological result, in whom 100 (65.4%) were non-immunised and 50 (32.7%) were resolved infections. Discordance for declaring ‘past’ or ‘chronic infection’ occurred in 9/55 (16.4%) and 3/10 (30.0%) individuals, respectively. In conclusion, self-reported HBV-status based on participant history is partially inadequate for determining serological HBV-status, especially between negative/vaccinated individuals. More adapted patient education about HBV-status might be helpful for certain key populations.

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