Anti-HBs re-seroconversion after liver transplantation in a patient with past HBV infection receiving a HBsAg positive graft

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Chronic hepatitis B: Are we close to a cure?

Approximately 300 million people worldwide are persistently infected with the hepatitis B virus and are at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis, which can progress to end-stage liver disease. Despite the effectiveness of the current vaccination policy, the prevalence of the disease remains high, and the burden for health services is considerable. The currently available antiviral strategies are either poorly effective or only effective for non-curative suppression of viral replication. Recent efforts have been focused on improving the cure rate for chronic hepatitis B and developing strategies to eliminate infected cells. Several approaches are under evaluation, and these include targeting the virus at different stages of its life cycle and boosting the antiviral immune response. This article reviews these latest approaches and comments on their feasibility and potential translation into clinical applications

Adaptive response in Hepatitis B virus infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of acute and chronic liver inflammation worldwide. The immune response against the virus represents a key factor in determining infection outcome, in terms of both viral clearance and the perpetuation of liver damage. Significant advances have recently been achieved regarding the functions of antiviral CD8+ T cells, leading to a better understanding of their abnormalities during chronic infection as well as the pathways to be manipulated to reverse the immune impairment of chronic infection. In this review, we aimed to analyse the patterns of adaptive immunity that develop during acute infection and the profiles in chronic infection. In addition to CD8+ T cells, which are the best-described subset to date, we reviewed and commented on the direct and indirect roles of CD4+ T cells and B cells

Chronic hepatitis B: Are we close to a cure?

Approximately 300 million people worldwide are persistently infected with the hepatitis B virus and are at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis, which can progress to end-stage liver disease. Despite the effectiveness of the current vaccination policy, the prevalence of the disease remains high, and the burden for health services is considerable. The currently available antiviral strategies are either poorly effective or only effective for non-curative suppression of viral replication. Recent efforts have been focused on improving the cure rate for chronic hepatitis B and developing strategies to eliminate infected cells. Several approaches are under evaluation, and these include targeting the virus at different stages of its life cycle and boosting the antiviral immune response. This article reviews these latest approaches and comments on their feasibility and potential translation into clinical applications