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J Viral Hepat 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.

Cessation of nucleos(t)ide analogue (Nuc) therapy in HBeAg-negative patients may increase HBsAg loss rate in patients with sustained remission (SR) and non-retreated clinical relapsers (CR). To investigate and compare the HBsAg kinetics from end of treatment (EOT) to HBsAg loss in these patients, serial serum samples after EOT from 36 SR and 12 CR with HBsAg loss (study group) and an 1:1 matched control who remained HBsAg seropositive (control group) were assayed retrospectively for quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg). The results showed that study group SR and CR had comparable EOT features except the SR which had lower EOT qHBsAg (67. Read More

J Viral Hepat 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA.

Velpatasvir is a pan-genotypic hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitor which is used with sofosbuvir for treatment of infection with HCV genotypes 1 to 6. In vitro resistance studies were performed to characterize NS5A changes that might also confer reduced velpatasvir susceptibility in vivo. Resistance selection studies using HCV replicon cells for subtypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a identified NS5A resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) at nine positions, most often 28M/S/T, 31F/I/M/P/V and 93D/H/N/S. Read More

Org Lett 2019 Apr 22. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Microbial Drugs , Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH , Inhoffenstraße 7 , 38124 Braunschweig , Germany.

Rhodatin (1), a meroterpenoid featuring a unique pentacyclic scaffold with both spiro and spiroketal centers, and five unusual acorane-type sesquiterpenoids, named rhodocoranes A-E (2-6, respectively), are the first natural products isolated from the basidiomycete Rhodotus palmatus. Their structures were elucidated by two-dimensional NMR experiments and HRESIMS, while the absolute configuration of the substance family was determined by Mosher's method utilizing 2. Rhodatin strongly inhibited hepatitis C virus, whereas 4 displayed cytotoxicity and selective antifungal activity. Read More

Heliyon 2019 Apr 6;5(4):e01477. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria, South Africa.

Background: Genetic diversity is a characteristic trait of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and has been associated with different clinical outcomes. In South Africa, HBV infection is a major public health concern. Most HBV infections are caused by genotype A strains. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 2;31:72. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie de l'Hôpital Aritide Le Dantec, Dakar, Sénégal.

Hepatic impairment is common during hyperthyroidism. It is most often asymptomatic. Hyperthyroidism revealed by jaundice has been rarely described in the literature. Read More

J Res Med Sci 2019 25;24:22. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Hepatitis B is one of the major causes of mortality among viral diseases. To reduce morbidity rate and increase knowledge of people about potential risk factors, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B among the general population and the risk factors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Isfahan, Iran.

Materials And Methods: In a case-control study, 314 HBV-infected patients and 557 healthy participants were recruited. Read More

J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019 Apr 21:1-16. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

b Excelra Knowledge Solutions Pvt Ltd , NSL-SEZ , Uppal, Hyderabad - 500 039 , India.

Nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B), the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) plays a key role in viral amplification and is an attractive and most explored target for discovery of new therapeutic agents for Hepatitis C. Though safe and effective NS5B inhibitors were launched in 2013 (Sovaldi) and 2014 (Harvoni, Viekira Pak), the high price tags of these medications limit their use among poor people in developing countries. Hence, still there exists a need for cost-effective and short duration anti-HCV agents especially those targeting niche patient population who were non-respondent to earlier therapies or with comorbid conditions. Read More

Arkh Patol 2019 ;81(2):29-35

Department of Pathological Anatomy, A.I. Evdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia.

Objective: To elucidate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viral infection among the people who died in Moscow in 2015-2017, by studying the primary medical records of a representative sample of fatal outcomes, followed by the mathematical extrapolation of the data obtained to the total number of all deaths.

Material And Methods: The 2015-2017 primary medical documentations from 8 therapeutic-and-preventive establishments with morbid anatomy units in the administrative districts and from 2 infectious diseases hospitals of the Moscow Healthcare Department were studied. The sample of those who died was 11. Read More

Med J Aust 2019 Apr 21. Epub 2019 Apr 21.

Monash University, Melbourne, VIC.

Objectives: To assess variations by time of year and hospital in the uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccinations by pregnant women in Victoria; to identify factors associated with vaccination uptake.

Design, Setting: Retrospective analysis of data in the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC), a population surveillance system for obstetric conditions, procedures, and pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Participants: Women whose pregnancies ended in a live or stillbirth during July 2015 - June 2017. Read More

Microb Pathog 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Infectious Disease Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. Electronic address:

Background: Various promising procedures have been used to improve the potency of DNA vaccines for the treatment of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) infections. Interleukin-12 (IL12) is a powerful adjuvant that can contribute to T cell-mediated protection against many pathogens, specifically viruses. Considering the important role of T cell-mediated immunity in tumor clearance, the induction of these responses can help control the progression of tumors in animal models. Read More

J Virol Methods 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-Shi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan. Electronic address:

Hepatitis E, which is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), is generally a self-limiting, acute, and rarely fatal disease. It is sometimes fulminant and lethal, especially during pregnancy. Indeed, it occasionally takes a chronic course in immunocompromised individuals. Read More

Food Environ Virol 2019 Apr 19. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for Foodborne Viruses, National Food Agency, Hamnesplanaden 5, 453 23, Uppsala, Sweden.

Mismatches between template sequences and reverse transcription (RT) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers can lead to underestimation or false negative results during detection and quantification of sequence-diverse viruses. We performed an in silico inclusivity analysis of a widely used RT-PCR assay for detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in food, described in ISO 15216-1. One of the most common mismatches found was a single G (primer) to U (template) mismatch located at the terminal 3'-end of the reverse primer region. Read More

Cell Host Microbe 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

CIRI, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Univ Lyon, Lyon F-69007, France. Electronic address:

Type I interferon (IFN-I) is critical for antiviral defense, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are a predominant source of IFN-I during virus infection. pDC-mediated antiviral responses are stimulated upon physical contact with infected cells, during which immunostimulatory viral RNA is transferred to pDCs, leading to IFN production via the nucleic acid sensor TLR7. Using dengue, hepatitis C, and Zika viruses, we demonstrate that the contact site of pDCs with infected cells is a specialized platform we term the interferogenic synapse, which enables viral RNA transfer and antiviral responses. Read More

PLoS One 2019 19;14(4):e0215377. Epub 2019 Apr 19.

Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: The study assessed the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection paradigm among the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients attending a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Also, the immunological and virological characterisation of these viruses, prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation was investigated.

Method: A total of 400 HIV infected (HIV type-1) treatment naïve subjects ≥18 years were enrolled and tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV. Read More

Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr 2019 ;29(1):25-28

Department of Biotechnology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading health problem across the globe. Only 20% of HCV positive individuals know their positive disease status. Effective HCV screening tests are required to screen both general and high-risk populations and identify the silent cases of HCV. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Background: Hepatitis E virus infection (HEV) is an emerging problem in developed countries. Diagnosis of HEV infection is based on the detection of HEV-specific antibodies, viral RNA and/or antigens (Ag). Humanized mice were previously reported as a model for the study of HEV infection, but published data was focused on the quantification of viral RNA. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019 3;9:91. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Virology Laboratory, Basil Hetzel Institute for Translational Health Research, Discipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major contributors to the global disease burden with many experts recognizing the requirement of an effective vaccine to bring a durable end to these viral epidemics. The most promising vaccine candidates that have advanced into pre-clinical models and the clinic to eliminate or provide protection against these chronic viruses are viral vectors [e.g. Read More

Cureus 2019 Feb 4;11(2):e4012. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Internal Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, PAK.

Introduction Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of cirrhosis. The advent of Directly Acting Antivirals (DAAs) like Sofosbuvir (SOF) has dramatized the treatment and is the cornerstone for the treatment of HCV. Most trials have been conducted in HCV genotype 1 (GT-1) and data for Interferon-free regimen in genotype 3 (GT-3) is limited especially in cirrhotic patients. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 18;9(1):6292. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Injection drug use (IDU) is one of the most significant risk factors for viral hepatitis (B and C) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. This study assessed seroprevalence rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in people who inject drugs (PWID) in Kuwait. We conducted a cross-sectional study from April to September 2017. Read More

Res Vet Sci 2019 Apr 8;124:256-262. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, Heilongjiang Province, PR China; Northeastern Science Inspection Station, China Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogen Biology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China. Electronic address:

Interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) are a family of proteins strongly induced downstream of type I interferon signaling. The function of IFITs has been investigated extensively in mammals. IFIT5 is the sole protein in this family found in birds and little information is available about the function of avian IFIT5. Read More

PLoS One 2019 18;14(4):e0215464. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Le Trait d'Union, HIV-Infection Care Center, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.

Introduction: Achieving functional cure of chronic HBV infection (Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] clearance, eventually followed by acquisition of anti-hepatitis B surface antigen [Anti-HBs]) in individuals with HIV and HBV infections is a rare event. In this setting, factors related to HBV cure have not yet been fully characterized.

Methods: HIV-infected individuals with chronic HBV infection enrolled in the French Dat'AIDS cohort (NCT02898987), who started combined antiretroviral (cART)-anti-HBV treatment were retrospectively analyzed for HBsAg loss and Anti-HBs seroconversion. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2019 04 18;15(4):e1007690. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with functionally impaired virus-specific T cell responses. Although the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are known to play a critical role in impairing antiviral T cell responses, viral factors responsible for the expansion of MDSCs in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain obscure. In order to elucidate the mechanism of monocytic MDSCs (mMDSCs) expansion and T cell function suppression during persistent HBV infection, we analyzed the circulation frequency of mMDSCs in 164 CHB patients and 70 healthy donors, and found that the proportion of mMDSCs in HBeAg (+) CHB patients was significantly increased compared to that in HBeAg (-) patients, which positively correlated with the level of HBeAg. Read More

Pol J Vet Sci 2019 Mar;22(1):163-171

Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Haping Road 678, Harbin 150001, PR China.

Duck viral hepatitis (DVH) is an acute and fatal disease of young ducklings characterized by rapid transmission and damages. The most important agent of DVH is duck hepatitis virus 1 (DHV-1). The effective control of DVH was achieved by active immunization of 1-day-old duck- lings with an attenuated DHV-1 virus vaccine. Read More

Nucleic Acids Res 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

The liver-specific microRNA, miR-122, is an essential host factor for replication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). miR-122 stabilizes the positive-strand HCV RNA genome and promotes its synthesis by binding two sites (S1 and S2) near its 5' end in association with Ago2. Ago2 is essential for both host factor activities, but whether other host proteins are involved is unknown. Read More

Klin Onkol 2019 ;32(2):133-138

Background: The use of nivolumab in the treatment of metastatic melanoma has become well established during past years. Despite its undeniable efficacy, immune-related side effects may occur, including acute liver injury. Liver toxicity caused by nivolumab is usually observed as liver enzyme elevation with mild or no symptoms; further, there is limited information regarding any histopathological findings. Read More

PLoS Biol 2019 Apr 17;17(4):e3000232. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Otago Micro and Nano Imaging, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Picornaviruses are small, icosahedral, nonenveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that form one of the largest and most important viral families. Numerous Picornaviridae members pose serious health or agricultural threats, causing diseases such as poliomyelitis, hepatitis A, or foot-and-mouth disease. The antigenic characterization of picornavirus capsids plays an important role in understanding the mechanism of viral neutralization and the conformational changes associated with genome release, and it can point to regions which can be targeted by small-molecule compounds to be developed as antiviral inhibitors. Read More

Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

a Department of Hepatology , Qilu Hospital of Shandong University , Jinan , China.

Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein-8 like-2 (TIPE2) is a novel negative regulator of innate and adaptive immune responses by binding to caspase-8. The binding of TIPE2 and caspase-8 can inhibit the activity of activating protein-1(AP-1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), ultimately promoting Fas-induced apoptosis in immune cells. Therefore, TIPE2-caspase-8-NF-κB signaling might serve as a biomarker and a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and severe clinical condition with high morbidity and mortality. Ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains the major cause of AKI in the clinic. Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of programmed cell death (PCD) that is characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Read More

Andrology 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Urology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Background: Nowadays, serodiscordant couples (SDCs) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected men have the chance to conceive safely, giving birth with a minimum risk of cross-infection.

Objective: To assess the impact of male HIV and HCV infection on the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes in SDCs, with HIV or HCV seropositive men and negative partners.

Materials And Methods: Of 153 couples: 24 in Group 1 (HIV-seropositive men), 60 in Group 2 (HCV-seropositive men) and 69 in Group 3 (controls). Read More

Hepatol Res 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Division of Gastroenterology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the impact of interleukin (IL)-34 and YKL-40, regulators of hepatic fibrosis and tumor growth, on the prognosis of patients with non-viral hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We enrolled 159 non-viral HCC patients (age, 70.8 ± 8. Read More

IDCases 2019 12;15:e00522. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

We report the first pediatric fatal case of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and dengue virus (DENV) co-infection. A 4-year-old boy who had a partial recovery of HAV infection but with subsequent DENV infection; the condition was complicated by acute fulminant hepatic failure, and death. The risk of DENV co-infection should be considered as cause of acute fulminant hepatic failure in pre-existing Hepatitis A infection. Read More

Bull World Health Organ 2019 Mar 28;97(3):230-238. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, No.38, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. China has the world's largest burden of HBV infection and will be a major contributor towards the global elimination of hepatitis B disease by 2030. The country has made good progress in reducing incidence of HBV infection in the past three decades. Read More

Virol J 2019 04 16;16(1):48. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, No. 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin Province, China.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-35 regulates imbalance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T helper (Th) 17 cells, leading to an important modulator in autoimmune disorder, cancer, and infectious diseases. Our previous study revealed an immunosuppressive activity of IL-35 in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate the role of regulatory function of IL-35 to viral specific Tregs/Th17 cells balance in chronic HBV infection. Read More

Virol J 2019 04 16;16(1):47. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Hepatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of liver cancer, creating enormous economic and social burdens. The Chinese government recommends routine screening of inpatients for HCV before invasive procedures to prevent iatric infections. However, the diagnosis and treatment rates for HCV remain low. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2019 Apr 16;19(1):53. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.

Background: As an alternative biomarker of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) transcriptional activity, hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA may evolve during long-lasting virus-host interactions during chronic hepatitis B viral infection. The distribution pattern of serum HBV RNA levels in the natural course of chronic HBV infection remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of HBV RNA during the natural course of CHB and the role in distinguishing the natural history of HBV infection. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Xinmin Street NO.71, Changchun, China, 130021.

We read the recent article by Eloi R. Verrier et al(1) titled "Hepatitis B Virus Evasion From Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Adenosine Monophosphate Synthase Sensing in Human Hepatocytes" with great interest. The authors have shown that cGAS is expressed in the human liver, primary human hepatocytes and human liver chimeric mouse. Read More

J Gen Virol 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

1​Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Guangxi Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis, Nanning, Guangxi 530028, PR China.

Hepatitis B virus has been classified into 10 genotypes and 48 subgenotypes worldwide. We found previously, through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a sample collected in 2011, that an HBsAg carrier was infected with two genotypes (B and D) of HBV. We carried out cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the complete genomes and, for confirmation, analysed a sample collected from the same individual in 2018. Read More

New Microbes New Infect 2019 May 14;29:100529. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Medical Sciences, Infectious Diseases, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

We herein report the case of a young immunocompetent adult patient with a rapidly fatal haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome related to human herpesvirus 1 (HHV-1) infection, with herpetic hepatitis and persistent high-level viraemia despite treatment with acyclovir. Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was confirmed in the patient's spleen and bone marrow. HHV-1 DNA was extracted from whole blood and liver biopsy and the UL23 gene was sequenced. Read More

Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2018 Nov 14;12(5):122-124. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Harvard Law School National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable Cambridge MA.

Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2018 Jul 22;12(1):5-11. Epub 2018 Aug 22.

Stanford University, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center Stanford CA.

J Res Med Sci 2019 25;24:12. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Gastroenterology, Isfahan Liver Disease Research Center, Isfahan, Iran.

Background: The present study aimed to determine the frequency of the IL28B polymorphism rs8099917 in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with pegylated-interferon-α2b (PEG-IFN-α2b) and ribavirin (RBV) and its treatment outcome.

Materials And Methods: The IL28B rs8099917 genotypes were determined among 100 HCV-infected patients and the viral load was also estimated. PEG-IFN-α2b and RBV combination were administrated to the patients for 48 weeks and the treatment outcome was defined. Read More

Nat Microbiol 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Current models of cell-intrinsic immunity to RNA viruses centre on virus-triggered inducible antiviral responses initiated by RIG-I-like receptors or Toll-like receptors that sense pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and signal downstream through interferon regulatory factors (IRFs), transcription factors that induce synthesis of type I and type III interferons. RNA viruses have evolved sophisticated strategies to disrupt these signalling pathways and evade elimination by cells, attesting to their importance. Less attention has been paid to how IRFs maintain basal levels of protection against viruses. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Apr 15;9(1):6106. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Developing a technology that enables oral vaccines to work efficiently remains a considerable effort since a number of difficulties must be addressed. The key objective being to ensure the safe passage through the harsh conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, promoting delivery that induces enhanced immune response. In the particular case of hepatitis B, the oral formulation in the nanostructured silica SBA-15 is a viable approach. Read More

Viruses 2019 Apr 3;11(4). Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SY, UK.

Using deep sequencing technologies such as Illumina's platform, it is possible to obtain reads from the viral RNA population revealing the viral genome diversity within a single host. A range of software tools and pipelines can transform raw deep sequencing reads into Sequence Alignment Mapping (SAM) files. We propose that interpretation tools should process these SAM files, directly translating individual reads to amino acids in order to extract statistics of interest such as the proportion of different amino acid residues at specific sites. Read More

Cells 2019 Apr 3;8(4). Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Biology and Biotechnology, "C. Darwin" Sapienza University, 00100 Rome, Italy.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the main cause of chronic hepatitis, affecting an estimated 150 million people worldwide. Initial exposure to HCV is most often followed by chronic hepatitis, with only a minority of individuals spontaneously clearing the virus. The induction of sustained and broadly directed HCV-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses, together with neutralizing antibodies (nAb), and specific genetic polymorphism have been associated with spontaneous resolution of the infection. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2019 Apr 2;7(2). Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.

The 20th International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Pacific Rim to3ok place in Shenzhen, China on January 8⁻9, 2018 followed by meetings of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)/immunology, acute respiratory infections, cancer, hepatitis, and viral diseases panels on January 10⁻11. The conference was organized as part of the United States-Japan Cooperative Medical Sciences Program (USJCMSP) by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and the U.S. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Apr 15;144(8):535-542. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

With the implementation of highly effective direct acting antivirals (DAAs), global control or even elimination of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection might have come into reach. In fact, DAA therapy leads to complete virus elimination, defined as sustained viral response (SVR), in the vast majority of patients. Moreover, in patients without cirrhosis, the risk of developing HCC after DAA therapy is significantly reduced. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Apr 15;144(8):528-534. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

With approximately 240 million chronically infected people, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in the world. Chronic HBV infection should be treated with antivirals, if either liver cirrhosis with detectable HBV DNA or relevant viral load (HBV DNA > 2000 IU/ml) and signs of liver damage (transaminase elevation, fibrosis, risk of liver cancer or similar) are present. The current standard therapy is a long-term treatment with nucleoside or nucleotide analogues such as entecavir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir alafenamide, while in selected cases interferon treatment (for 48 weeks) may be useful. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Apr 15;144(8):520-527. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Chronic viral hepatitis can remain unrecognized but may nevertheless lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, patients with elevated liver enzymes as well as risk groups need to be screened and treated for viral hepatitis. These groups include, in particular, migrants from countries with high HBV or HCV prevalence, persons with previous or current intravenous drug use, and homosexual men. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 Apr 15;4:CD008205. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Paediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1100 DD.

Background: Survival rates have greatly improved as a result of more effective treatments for childhood cancer. Unfortunately, the improved prognosis has been accompanied by the occurrence of late, treatment-related complications. Liver complications are common during and soon after treatment for childhood cancer. Read More