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Bartosh UI, Dome AS, Zhukova NV, Karitskaya PE, Stepanov GA. CRISPR/Cas9 as a New Antiviral Strategy for Treating Hepatitis Viral Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:334. [PMID: 38203503 PMCID: PMC10779197 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis is an inflammatory liver disease primarily caused by hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), D (HDV), and E (HEV) viruses. The chronic forms of hepatitis resulting from HBV and HCV infections can progress to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while acute hepatitis can lead to acute liver failure, sometimes resulting in fatality. Viral hepatitis was responsible for over 1 million reported deaths annually. The treatment of hepatitis caused by viral infections currently involves the use of interferon-α (IFN-α), nucleoside inhibitors, and reverse transcriptase inhibitors (for HBV). However, these methods do not always lead to a complete cure for viral infections, and chronic forms of the disease pose significant treatment challenges. These facts underscore the urgent need to explore novel drug developments for the treatment of viral hepatitis. The discovery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and the subsequent development of various modifications of this system have represented a groundbreaking advance in the quest for innovative strategies in the treatment of viral infections. This technology enables the targeted disruption of specific regions of the genome of infectious agents or the direct manipulation of cellular factors involved in viral replication by introducing a double-strand DNA break, which is targeted by guide RNA (spacer). This review provides a comprehensive summary of our current knowledge regarding the application of the CRISPR/Cas system in the regulation of viral infections caused by HAV, HBV, and HCV. It also highlights new strategies for drug development aimed at addressing both acute and chronic forms of viral hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Grigory A. Stepanov
- The Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (U.I.B.); (A.S.D.); (N.V.Z.); (P.E.K.)
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2
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Ebrahimi S, Khosravi MA, Raz A, Karimipoor M, Parvizi P. CRISPR-Cas Technology as a Revolutionary Genome Editing tool: Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2023; 27:219-46. [PMID: 37873636 PMCID: PMC10707817 DOI: 10.61186/ibj.27.5.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Programmable nucleases are powerful genomic tools for precise genome editing. These tools precisely recognize, remove, or change DNA at a defined site, thereby, stimulating cellular DNA repair pathways that can cause mutations or accurate replacement or deletion/insertion of a sequence. CRISPR-Cas9 system is the most potent and useful genome editing technique adapted from the defense immune system of certain bacteria and archaea against viruses and phages. In the past decade, this technology made notable progress, and at present, it has largely been used in genome manipulation to make precise gene editing in plants, animals, and human cells. In this review, we aim to explain the basic principle, mechanisms of action, and applications of this system in different areas of medicine, with emphasizing on the detection and treatment of parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Ebrahimi
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Khosravi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbasali Raz
- Malaria and Vector Research Group (MVRG), Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Karimipoor
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center (BRC), Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Parvizi
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Yang H, Yao W, Yang J. Overview of the development of HBV small molecule inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 249:115128. [PMID: 36709647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Like tuberculosis and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis B is a globally recognized major public health threat. Although there are many small-molecule drugs for the treatment of hepatitis B, the approved drugs cannot eradicate the pathogenic culprit covalently closed circular DNA in patients, so the patients need long-term medication to control HBV amplification. Driven by a high unmet medical need, many pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have been engaged in the development of anti-HBV drugs to achieve a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B as soon as possible. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus and the research progress in the development of anti-HBV small molecule drugs, and introduces the cccDNA formation and transcription inhibitors and core inhibitors in detail, especially emphasizes the role of chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Furthermore, this review proposes three potential strategies for cccDNA eradication in the future. We believe this review will provide meaningful guidance to achieve a functional cure for viral hepatitis B in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Yang
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266001, China
| | - Weiwei Yao
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266001, China
| | - Jinfei Yang
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266001, China.
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4
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Yan R, Cai D, Zong Y, Guo L, Zhou Y, Tang A, Li L, Huang Q, Colonno R, Walker MA. Preclinical characterization of ABI-H2158, an HBV core inhibitor with dual mechanisms of action. Antiviral Res 2023; 209:105485. [PMID: 36509208 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The HBV core protein plays an integral role in multiple steps of the HBV lifecycle. Consequently, HBV core inhibitors interrupt multiple steps of the replication cycle, including blocking pgRNA encapsidation and prematurely disassembling existing nucleocapsids, thereby preventing them from transporting relaxed circular (rcDNA) to the nucleus for conversion to covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). ABI-H2158 is an HBV core inhibitor that advanced into Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection (cHBV) but was discontinued due to hepatotoxicity. Here, the potency, selectivity, and mechanisms of action of ABI-H2158 were evaluated using a variety of cell-based assays. Antiviral activity was measured by quantifying intracellular or secreted HBV DNA, RNA, and antigens. ABI-H2158 inhibited HBV replication by blocking pgRNA encapsidation in induced HepAD38 cells (EC50 = 22 nM) and had similar potency in HBV-infected HepG2-NTCP cells (EC50 = 27 nM) and primary human hepatocytes (PHH) (EC50 = 41 nM). ABI-H2158 is a pan-genotypic HBV inhibitor, with EC50s ranging from 7.1 to 22 nM across HBV genotypes A-E. ABI-H2158 also potently blocked the formation of cccDNA in de novo HBV infections with EC50s of ∼200 nM in HepG2-NTCP and PHH assays. These results indicate ABI-H2158 has dual mechanisms of action, inhibiting both early and late steps of the HBV replication cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Yan
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Dawei Cai
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yuhua Zong
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lida Guo
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yi Zhou
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ariel Tang
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lichun Li
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qi Huang
- Assembly Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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5
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Olenginski LT, Kasprzak WK, Bergonzo C, Shapiro BA, Dayie TK. Conformational Dynamics of the Hepatitis B Virus Pre-genomic RNA on Multiple Time Scales: Implications for Viral Replication. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167633. [PMID: 35595167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is initiated by the binding of the viral polymerase (P) to epsilon (ε), an ≈85-nucleotide (nt) cis-acting regulatory stem-loop RNA located at the 5'-end of the pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA). This interaction triggers P and pgRNA packaging and protein-primed reverse transcription and is therefore an attractive therapeutic target. Our recent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of ε provides a useful starting point toward a detailed understanding of HBV replication, and hints at the functional importance of ε dynamics. Here, we present a detailed description of ε motions on the ps to ns and μs to ms time scales by NMR spin relaxation and relaxation dispersion, respectively. We also carried out molecular dynamics simulations to provide additional insight into ε conformational dynamics. These data outline a series of complex motions on multiple time scales within ε. Moreover, these motions occur in mostly conserved nucleotides from structural regions (i.e., priming loop, pseudo-triloop, and U43 bulge) that biochemical and mutational studies have shown to be essential for P binding, P-pgRNA packaging, protein-priming, and DNA synthesis. Taken together, our work implicates RNA dynamics as an integral feature that governs HBV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz T Olenginski
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Wojciech K Kasprzak
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Christina Bergonzo
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Bruce A Shapiro
- RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Theodore K Dayie
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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Noverati N, Bashir-Hamidu R, Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Hann HW. Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Chronic Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073917. [PMID: 35409275 PMCID: PMC8999024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hepatitis B virus is one of the most significant hepatocarcinogens globally. The carcinogenic mechanisms of this virus are complex, and may include interactions with the host’s immune system. Certain factors, such as stress on the body, can also potentiate these mechanisms. Stress, although adaptive in an acute form, is deleterious to health when chronic and can both suppress and activate the host’s defense system. In hepatocellular carcinoma, this can lead to tumor initiation and progression. Those that are more prone to stress, or exposed to situations that incite stress, may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Racial disparities, for example, are a source of chronic psychosocial stress in America and predispose minorities to poorer outcomes. As it remains perplexing why some individuals with chronic hepatitis B develop feared complications while others do not, it is important to recognize as many risk factors as possible, including those often overlooked such as chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Noverati
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
| | - Rukaiya Bashir-Hamidu
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dina Halegoua-DeMarzio
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Hie-Won Hann
- Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (N.N.); (R.B.-H.); (D.H.-D.)
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
- Correspondence:
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Mao B, Wang Z, Pi S, Long Q, Chen K, Cui J, Huang A, Hu Y. Difluoromethylornithine, a Decarboxylase 1 Inhibitor, Suppresses Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Reducing HBc Protein Levels. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:158. [PMID: 32373551 PMCID: PMC7176913 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Current treatments of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are limited to Interferon-alpha or the nucleos(t)ide analogs antiviral therapies, and it is crucial to develop and define new antiviral drugs to cure HBV. In this study, we explored the anti-HBV effect of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversibly inhibitor of decarboxylase 1(ODC1) on HBV replication. Firstly, we found that polyamines contributed to HBV DNA replication via increasing levels of the HBV core protein (HBc) and capsids. In contrast, depletion of polyamines either by silencing the expression of ODC1 or DFMO treatment, resulted in decreasing viral DNA replication and levels of HBc protein and capsids. Furthermore, we found that DFMO decreased the stability of the HBc protein without affecting mRNA transcription and protein translation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that DFMO inhibits HBV replication by reducing HBc stability and this may provide a new approach for HBV therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binli Mao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhuo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sidie Pi
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quanxin Long
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ke Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Cui
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ailong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology on Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Education, Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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8
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Lee C. Controversial Effects of Vitamin D and Related Genes on Viral Infections, Pathogenesis, and Treatment Outcomes. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12040962. [PMID: 32235600 PMCID: PMC7230640 DOI: 10.3390/nu12040962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D (VD) plays an essential role in mineral homeostasis and bone remodeling. A number of different VD-related genes (VDRG) are required for the metabolic activation of VD and the subsequent induction of its target genes. They include a set of genes that encode for VD-binding protein, metabolic enzymes, and the VD receptor. In addition to its well-characterized skeletal function, the immunoregulatory activities of VD and the related polymorphisms of VDRG have been reported and linked to its therapeutic and preventive actions for the control of several viral diseases. However, in regards to their roles in the progression of viral diseases, inconsistent and, in some cases, contradictory results also exist. To resolve this discrepancy, I conducted an extensive literature search by using relevant keywords on the PubMed website. Based on the volume of hit papers related to a certain viral infection, I summarized and compared the effects of VD and VDRG polymorphism on the infection, pathogenesis, and treatment outcomes of clinically important viral diseases. They include viral hepatitis, respiratory viral infections, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and other viral diseases, which are caused by herpesviruses, dengue virus, rotavirus, and human papillomavirus. This review will provide the most current information on the nutritional and clinical utilization of VD and VDRG in the management of the key viral diseases. This information should be valuable not only to nutritionists but also to clinicians who wish to provide evidence-based recommendations on the use of VD to virally infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choongho Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyang 10326, Korea
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9
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Ma A, Motyka B, Gutfreund K, Shi YE, George R. A dendritic cell receptor-targeted chimeric immunotherapeutic protein (C-HBV) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:756-778. [PMID: 31687879 PMCID: PMC7227630 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1689080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections HBV-specific T cells are functionally impaired. Immunotherapy may restore HBV-specific T cell responses essential for sustained disease remission off-treatment and induction of a functional cure. Chimigen® Molecules are fusion proteins of antigen(s) with the Fc fragment of a xenotypic antibody designed to target specific receptors on dendritic cells (DCs). Here we describe the production and pre-clinical evaluation of Chimigen® HBV (C-HBV), containing HBV PreS1 and PreS2 peptide fragments, HBV core and murine Fc, produced in insect cells. C-HBV binding to immature DCs and internalization by endocytosis was FcγRII (CD32) and mannose receptor (CD206) dependent and led to increased MHC I and MHC II surface expression. Upon exposure of human T cells isolated from HBV un-infected healthy and chronically HBV-infected donors to C-HBV-pulsed mature DCs ex vivo, C-HBV induced vigorous T cell proliferation and enhanced expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, perforin and granzyme B in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Re-stimulation of C-HBV-activated T cells from chronically infected donors with HBV PreS1/PreS2 and core overlapping peptides induced IFN-γ production in both CD4+ and CD8+ populations. C-HBV-activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from chronically HBV-infected patients stimulated granzyme B production by CD4+CD25- T responder (Tresp) cells, accompanied by an increase in Annexin V staining on CD4+CD25+ T regulatory (Treg) cell phenotype, consistent with apoptosis. The observed HBV-specific cellular responses induced by C-HBV ex vivo suggest that C-HBV is a promising immunotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of chronic HBV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Ma
- Akshaya Bio Inc., Edmonton, Canada
| | - Bruce Motyka
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Klaus Gutfreund
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Yuenian Eric Shi
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Zhang E, Ma Z, Li Q, Yan H, Liu J, Wu W, Guo J, Zhang X, Kirschning CJ, Xu H, Lang PA, Yang D, Dittmer U, Yan H, Lu M. TLR2 Stimulation Increases Cellular Metabolism in CD8 + T Cells and Thereby Enhances CD8 + T Cell Activation, Function, and Antiviral Activity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:2872-2886. [PMID: 31636238 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
TLR2 serves as a costimulatory molecule on activated T cells. However, it is unknown how the functionality and antiviral activity of CD8+ T cells are modulated by direct TLR2 signaling. In this study, we looked at the TLR2-mediated enhancement of TCR-driven CD8+ T cell activation in vitro and in woodchuck hepatitis virus transgenic mice. In vitro stimulation of CD8+ T cells purified from C57BL/6 mice showed that TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 directly enhanced the TCR-dependent CD8+ T cell activation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that TLR2 signaling increased expression of bioenergy metabolism-related genes in CD8+ T cells, such as IRF4, leading to improved glycolysis and glutaminolysis. This was associated with the upregulation of genes related to immune regulation and functions such as T-bet and IFN-γ. Glycolysis and glutaminolysis were in turn essential for the TLR2-mediated enhancement of T cell activation. Administration of TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 promoted the expansion and functionality of vaccine-primed, Ag-specific CD8+ T cells in both wild type and transgenic mice and improved viral suppression. Thus, TLR2 could promote CD8+ T cell immunity through regulating the energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ejuan Zhang
- Mucosal Immunity Research Group, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071 Wuhan, China.,Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Zhiyong Ma
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071 Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Li
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Hu Yan
- Mucosal Immunity Research Group, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071 Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022 Wuhan, China
| | - Weimin Wu
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Jiabao Guo
- Mucosal Immunity Research Group, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071 Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Carsten J Kirschning
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany; and
| | - Haifeng Xu
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp A Lang
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich-Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dongliang Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022 Wuhan, China
| | - Ulf Dittmer
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Huimin Yan
- Mucosal Immunity Research Group, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071 Wuhan, China
| | - Mengji Lu
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany;
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11
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Design, Synthesis, and Bioactive Screen In Vitro of Cyclohexyl ( E)-4-(Hydroxyimino)-4-Phenylbutanoates and Their Ethers for Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Agents. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24112063. [PMID: 31151219 PMCID: PMC6600592 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24112063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of oxime Cyclohexyl (E)-4-(hydroxyimino)-4-phenylbutanoates and their ethers were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities with HepG 2.2.15 cell line in vitro. Most of these compounds possessed anti-HBV activities, and among them, compound 4B-2 showed significant inhibiting effects on the secretion of HBsAg (IC50 = 63.85 ± 6.26 μM, SI = 13.41) and HBeAg (IC50 = 49.39 ± 4.17 μM, SI = 17.34) comparing to lamivudine (3TC) in HBsAg (IC50 = 234.2 ± 17.17 μM, SI = 2.2) and HBeAg (IC50 = 249.9 ± 21.51 μM, SI = 2.07). Docking study of these compounds binding to a protein residue (PDB ID: 3OX8) from HLA-A2 that with the immunodominant HBcAg18–27 epitope (HLA-A2.1- restricted CTL epitope) active site was carried out by using molecular operation environment (MOE) software. Docking results showed that behaviors of these compounds binding to the active site in HLA-A protein residue partly coincided with their behaviors in vitro anti-HBV active screening.
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12
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CRISPR/Cas9-Based Antiviral Strategy: Current Status and the Potential Challenge. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24071349. [PMID: 30959782 PMCID: PMC6480260 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24071349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
From its unexpected discovery as a bacterial adaptive immune system to its countless applications as one of the most versatile gene-editing tools, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has revolutionized every field of life science. Virology is no exception to this ever-growing list of CRISPR/Cas9-based applications. Direct manipulation of a virus genome by CRISPR/Cas9 has enabled a systematic study of cis-elements and trans-elements encoded in a virus genome. In addition, this virus genome-specific mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 was further funneled into the development of a novel class of antiviral therapy targeting many incurable chronic viral infections. In this review, a general concept on the CRISPR/Cas9-based antiviral strategy will be described first. To understand the current status of the CRISPR/Cas9-based antiviral approach, a series of recently published antiviral studies involving CRISPR/Cas9-mediated control of several clinically-relevant viruses including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, herpesviruses, human papillomavirus, and other viruses will be presented. Lastly, the potential challenge and future prospect for successful clinical translation of this CRISPR/Cas9-based antiviral method will be discussed.
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13
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Lobaina Y, Perera Y. Implication of B23/NPM1 in Viral Infections, Potential Uses of B23/NPM1 Inhibitors as Antiviral Therapy. Infect Disord Drug Targets 2019; 19:2-16. [PMID: 29589547 DOI: 10.2174/1871526518666180327124412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND B23/nucleophosmin (B23/NPM1) is an abundant multifunctional protein mainly located in the nucleolus but constantly shuttling between the nucleus and cytosol. As a consequence of its constitutive expression, intracellular dynamics and binding capacities, B23/NPM1 interacts with multiple cellular factors in different cellular compartments, but also with viral proteins from both DNA and RNA viruses. B23/NPM1 influences overall viral replication of viruses like HIV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HPV by playing functional roles in different stages of viral replication including nuclear import, viral genome transcription and assembly, as well as final particle formation. Of note, some virus modify the subcellular localization, stability and/or increases B23/NPM1 expression levels on target cells, probably to foster B23/NPM1 functions in their own replicative cycle. RESULTS This review summarizes current knowledge concerning the interaction of B23/NPM1 with several viral proteins during relevant human infections. The opportunities and challenges of targeting this well-conserved host protein as a potentially new broad antiviral treatment are discussed in detail. Importantly, although initially conceived to treat cancer, a handful of B23/NPM1 inhibitors are currently available to test on viral infection models. CONCLUSION As B23/NPM1 partakes in key steps of viral replication and some viral infections remain as unsolved medical needs, an appealing idea may be the expedite evaluation of B23/NPM1 inhibitors in viral infections. Furthermore, worth to be addressed is if the up-regulation of B23/NPM1 protein levels that follows persistent viral infections may be instrumental to the malignant transformation induced by virus like HBV and HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadira Lobaina
- Therapeutic Hepatitis B Vaccine Group, Vaccine Division, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, CP 10600, Cuba
| | - Yasser Perera
- Molecular Oncology Group, Pharmaceuticals Division, Biomedical Research Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, CP 10600, Cuba
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14
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Mitra B, Thapa RJ, Guo H, Block TM. Host functions used by hepatitis B virus to complete its life cycle: Implications for developing host-targeting agents to treat chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral Res 2018; 158:185-198. [PMID: 30145242 PMCID: PMC6193490 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Similar to other mammalian viruses, the life cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is heavily dependent upon and regulated by cellular (host) functions. These cellular functions can be generally placed in to two categories: (a) intrinsic host restriction factors and innate defenses, which must be evaded or repressed by the virus; and (b) gene products that provide functions necessary for the virus to complete its life cycle. Some of these functions may apply to all viruses, but some may be specific to HBV. In certain cases, the virus may depend upon the host function much more than does the host itself. Knowing which host functions regulate the different steps of a virus' life cycle, can lead to new antiviral targets and help in developing novel treatment strategies, in addition to improving a fundamental understanding of viral pathogenesis. Therefore, in this review we will discuss known host factors which influence key steps of HBV life cycle, and further elucidate therapeutic interventions targeting host-HBV interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bidisha Mitra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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15
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Shire NJ. Cure Strategies for Hepatitis B Virus: The Promise of Immunotherapy. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2018; 6:186-194. [PMID: 28263466 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitits B virus remains a public health challenge, infecting more than 240 million people globally and causing 600,000 deaths per year from end-stage liver disease and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Current antiviral therapeutic agents are highly effective at blocking viral replication, but discontinuation of therapy prior to loss of hepatitis B surface antigen generally leads to relapse. New modalities that target host factors of viral persistence such as immune response pathway inhibition hold promise. Other experimental approaches may target virally related persistence factors, including covalently closed circular DNA. All these approaches will require creative new means of assessing proof of biology and proof of mechanism, particularly in the relevant compartment of liver tissue. Furthermore, it is likely to require combinations of modalities in defined patient populations to achieve optimal response. A precompetitive consortium approach may enable companies, regulators, and academic researchers to share best practices and evaluate preclinical and clinical pathways for these novel approaches.
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16
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Abstract
With high morbidity and mortality worldwide, there is great interest in effective therapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus. There are currently several dozen investigational agents being developed for treatment of CHB. They can be broadly divided into two categories: (1) direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that interfere with a specific step in viral replication; and (2) host-targeting agents that inhibit viral replication by modifying host cell function, with the latter group further divided into the subcategories of immune modulators and agents that target other host functions. Included among the DAAs being developed are RNA interference therapies, covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) formation and transcription inhibitors, core/capsid inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) release inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, and helioxanthin analogues. Included among the host-targeting agents are entry inhibitors, cyclophilin inhibitors, and multiple immunomodulatory agents, including Toll-like receptor agonists, immune checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic vaccines, engineered T cells, and several cytokine agents, including recombinant human interleukin-7 (CYT107) and SB 9200, a novel therapy that is believed to both have direct antiviral properties and to induce endogenous interferon. In this review we discuss agents that are currently in the clinical stage of development for CHB treatment as well as strategies and agents currently at the evaluation and discovery phase and potential future targets. Effective approaches to CHB may require suppression of viral replication combined with one or more host-targeting agents. Some of the recent research advances have led to the hope that with such a combined approach we may have a functional cure for CHB in the not distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altaf Dawood
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Syed Abdul Basit
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Mahendran Jayaraj
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Robert G Gish
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA, USA.
- Asian Pacific Health Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA.
- National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, Washington, DC, USA.
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17
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Tan J, Zhou M, Cui X, Wei Z, Wei W. Discovery of Oxime Ethers as Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Inhibitors by Docking, Screening and In Vitro Investigation. Molecules 2018. [PMID: 29534537 PMCID: PMC6017342 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23030637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of oxime ethers with C6-C4 fragment was designed and virtually bioactively screened by docking with a target, then provided by a Friedel–Crafts reaction, esterification (or amidation), and oximation from p-substituted phenyl derivatives (Methylbenzene, Methoxybenzene, Chlorobenzene). Anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated with HepG2.2.15 cells in vitro. Results showed that most of compounds exhibited low cytotoxicity on HepG2.2.15 cells and significant inhibition on the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg. Among them, compound 5c-1 showed the most potent activity on inhibiting HBsAg secretion (IC50 = 39.93 μM, SI = 28.51). Results of the bioactive screening showed that stronger the compounds bound to target human leukocyte antigen A protein in docking, the more active they were in anti-HBV activities in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Tan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 53004, China.
| | - Min Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 53004, China.
| | - Xinhua Cui
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 53004, China.
| | - Zhuocai Wei
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 53004, China.
| | - Wanxing Wei
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 53004, China.
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry Technology and Resource Development, Guangxi University, Nanning 53004, China.
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18
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Dusheiko G. Current and future directions of management of hepatitis B: steps toward a cure. Future Virol 2018. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2017-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Universal hepatitis B virus vaccination has been effective in reducing incident chronic hepatitis B but will not have the requisite effect on the prevalence of end-stage liver disease in chronically infected persons. The natural history and immunological stages of hepatitis B virus infection are still being defined. Over three decades, current therapies have reduced morbidity from chronic hepatitis B. The majority require nucleoside analog maintenance therapy. The preferential preservation of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), and capsid reverse transcriptase–cccDNA interactions currently precludes cure in most. A functional cure in the host may require several synergistic antiviral and immunological intercessions. The correct sequencing and combinations of treatment with either host or viral targeting agents have yet to be determined. Proven surrogates for cccDNA for clinical trials are required. Different strategies may become apparent for patients at different stages of the disease. Curative therapies will require affordability. This review focuses on steps toward a cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Dusheiko
- Kings College Hospital & University College London Medical School, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
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19
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Singh US, Mulamoottil VA, Chu CK. 2′-Fluoro-6′-methylene carbocyclic adenosine and its phosphoramidate prodrug: A novel anti-HBV agent, active against drug-resistant HBV mutants. Med Res Rev 2018; 38:977-1002. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Uma S. Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; University of Georgia; Athens GA USA
| | | | - Chung K. Chu
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; University of Georgia; Athens GA USA
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20
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De Clercq E. Role of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) in the treatment and prophylaxis of HIV and HBV infections. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 153:2-11. [PMID: 29225131 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tenofovir (TFV) is the cornerstone of the treatment and prophylaxis of HIV infections. It has been routinely used in its prodrug form TDF (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) combined with emtricitabine ((-)FTC) and other antiretroviral agents. TDF has now been replaced by TAF (tenofovir alafenamide) which allows better uptake by the lymphoid tissue. In combination with elvitegravir (E), cobicistat (C), emtricitabine (F), TAF can be advocated as an STR (single tablet regimen, Genvoya®) for the treatment of HIV infections. In this combination, E and C may in the future be replaced by bictegravir. The prophylaxis of HIV infection is momentarily based upon Truvada®, the combination of F with TDF, which in the future may also be replaced by TAF. TAF (Vemlidy®) has also replaced TDF (Viread®) for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. Both TDF and TAF offer little or no risk for virus-drug resistance. As compared to TDF, TAF limits the risk for nephrotoxicity and loss of bone mineral density. What remains to be settled, however, before the universal use of TAF could be recommended, is its safety during pregnancy and its applicability in the treatment of tuberculosis, in combination with rifampicin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik De Clercq
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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21
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Wahid B, Usman S, Ali A, Saleem K, Rafique S, Naz Z, Ahsan Ashfaq H, Idrees M. Therapeutic Strategies of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats-Cas Systems for Different Viral Infections. Viral Immunol 2017; 30:552-559. [DOI: 10.1089/vim.2017.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Braira Wahid
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sana Usman
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Amjad Ali
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Komal Saleem
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shazia Rafique
- Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Hafiz Ahsan Ashfaq
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Idrees
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Vice Chancellor Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
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22
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Zhang W, Xie Q, Ning Q, Dou X, Chen X, Jia J, Xie Y, Ren H. The role of peginterferon in nucleos(t)ide-analogue-treated chronic hepatitis B patients: A review of published literature. J Viral Hepat 2017; 24:618-623. [PMID: 28211135 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) causes up to 1.0 million deaths annually. Currently, more than 90% of CHB patients worldwide are receiving indefinite nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy. New strategies for optimizing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss are required for NA-treated patients as the majority are unable to achieve HBsAg loss and may require lifelong therapy. In hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients, switching from NAs to finite peginterferon (PegIFN) therapy can double HBeAg seroconversion rates. One in five patients who switch to PegIFN can achieve HBsAg loss, whereas patients who continue NA therapy typically do not. In HBeAg-negative NA-treated patients, add-on PegIFN therapy achieves higher, albeit modest, HBsAg loss rates compared with continued NA monotherapy and offers the opportunity for NA-treated patients to achieve the inactive carrier state. In the absence of curative therapies, PegIFN represents a valuable, finite option for NA-treated patients who would otherwise require potentially lifelong therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Q Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Q Ning
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong Technology University, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China
| | - X Dou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - X Chen
- International Medical Department, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - J Jia
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Y Xie
- Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - H Ren
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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23
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Blank A, Eidam A, Haag M, Hohmann N, Burhenne J, Schwab M, van de Graaf SFJ, Meyer MR, Maurer HH, Meier K, Weiss J, Bruckner T, Alexandrov A, Urban S, Mikus G, Haefeli WE. The NTCP-inhibitor Myrcludex B: Effects on Bile Acid Disposition and Tenofovir Pharmacokinetics. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2017; 103:341-348. [DOI: 10.1002/cpt.744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Blank
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - A Eidam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - M Haag
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology; University of Tübingen; Stuttgart Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Tübingen Partner Site; Tübingen Germany
| | - N Hohmann
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - J Burhenne
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - M Schwab
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology; University of Tübingen; Stuttgart Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Tübingen Partner Site; Tübingen Germany
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology; University Hospital Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
- Department of Pharmacy and Biochemistry; University of Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
| | - SFJ van de Graaf
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research & Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Academic Medical Center; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - MR Meyer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Toxicology; Saarland University; Homburg Germany
| | - HH Maurer
- Experimental and Clinical Toxicology; Saarland University; Homburg Germany
| | - K Meier
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - J Weiss
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - T Bruckner
- Institute of Medical Biostatistics and Medical Informatics; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
| | | | - S Urban
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
| | - G Mikus
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
| | - WE Haefeli
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology; Heidelberg University Hospital; Heidelberg Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Heidelberg Partner Site; Heidelberg Germany
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24
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Lomonosova E, Daw J, Garimallaprabhakaran AK, Agyemang NB, Ashani Y, Murelli RP, Tavis JE. Efficacy and cytotoxicity in cell culture of novel α-hydroxytropolone inhibitors of hepatitis B virus ribonuclease H. Antiviral Res 2017. [PMID: 28633989 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major worldwide public health problem. Current direct-acting anti-HBV drugs target the HBV DNA polymerase activity, but the equally essential viral ribonuclease H (RNaseH) activity is unexploited as a drug target. Previously, we reported that α-hydroxytropolone compounds can inhibit the HBV RNaseH and block viral replication. Subsequently, we found that our biochemical RNaseH assay underreports efficacy of the α-hydroxytropolones against HBV replication. Therefore, we conducted a structure-activity analysis of 59 troponoids against HBV replication in cell culture. These studies revealed that antiviral efficacy is diminished by larger substitutions on the tropolone ring, identified key components in the substitutions needed for high efficacy, and revealed that cytotoxicity correlates with increased lipophilicity of the α-hydroxytropolones. These data provide key guidance for further optimization of the α-hydroxytropolone scaffold as novel HBV RNaseH inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Lomonosova
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jil Daw
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Nana B Agyemang
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Yashkumar Ashani
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Ryan P Murelli
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA; PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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25
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Emery JS, Feld JJ. Treatment of hepatitis B virus with combination therapy now and in the future. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2017; 31:347-355. [PMID: 28774417 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic Hepatitis B continues as a significant public health problem despite the availability of safe and effective antivirals and a highly effective protective vaccine. Current therapy, however rarely leads to cure and lifelong therapy is often required, contributing to poor uptake and ongoing morbidity. New insights into the hepatitis B viral life cycle and the host immune response have expanded the potential targets for drug therapies with interesting antiviral candidates and novel immunotherapeutic approaches in early stage development. Yet, HBV persistence is multifactorial - due to an intrahepatic reservoir and ongoing HBV-mediated immune dysregulation, making "cure" unlikely to be realized through even the most efficacious monotherapy. Building on the success seen in the treatment of hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), combination therapy may be an essential strategy to improve efficacy and decrease viral breakthrough. Combinations acting on immune and viral targets are particularly attractive. However, creating synergy while balancing efficacy and safety remains a clear challenge. Various approaches to combination therapy are reviewed, highlighting strengths and challenges of each potential strategy. Overall, combination therapies are attractive as the next step towards cure and are a key strategy for achieving treatment with finite durations and durable endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel S Emery
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan J Feld
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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26
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Soriano V, Barreiro P, Benitez L, Peña JM, de Mendoza C. New antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2017; 26:843-851. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2017.1333105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Soriano
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital & Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Barreiro
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital & Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Benitez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Puerta de Hierro Research Institute, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Jose M. Peña
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital & Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen de Mendoza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Puerta de Hierro Research Institute, Majadahonda, Spain
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27
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Abdul Basit S, Dawood A, Ryan J, Gish R. Tenofovir alafenamide for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2017; 10:707-716. [PMID: 28460547 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2017.1323633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In April 2017 tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) was added to the list of first-line therapies recommended for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). TAF has pharmacology similar to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with higher cell delivery to the hepatocytes but less systemic exposure. Areas covered: We review here studies leading to TAF's approval and comparing it to TDF. In two major clinical trials, TAF was non-inferior to TDF in achieving HBV DNA levels below 29 IU/ml. TAF-treated patients had significantly smaller decreases in bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip and spine in both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients, and smaller mean increases in serum creatinine, although the difference was only statistically significant in HBeAg-positive patients. Patients treated with TDF for 96 weeks and then switched to TAF had improvements in renal and BMD measures only 24 weeks after switching. Expert commentary: With clear evidence from major studies showing that TAF is safe, tolerable, and non-inferior to TDF, its recommendation as a first-line therapy is appropriate. Longer term follow up will be required to determine if the differences in adverse bone and kidney effects seen with TAF in comparison to TDF will be clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Abdul Basit
- a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , University of Nevada School of Medicine , Las Vegas , NV , USA
| | - Altaf Dawood
- a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , University of Nevada School of Medicine , Las Vegas , NV , USA
| | - John Ryan
- b Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada (CDIN) , Las Vegas , NV , USA.,c Roseman University of Health Sciences , Henderson , NV , USA
| | - Robert Gish
- a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , University of Nevada School of Medicine , Las Vegas , NV , USA.,d Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine , Stanford University Medical Center , Stanford , CA , USA.,e Hepatitis B Foundation , Doylestown , PA , USA.,f Asian Pacific Health Foundation , San Diego , CA , USA.,g National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable , Washington , D.C , USA
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28
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Wang J, Liu R, Liu B, Yang Y, Xie J, Zhu N. Systems Pharmacology-based strategy to screen new adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccine from Traditional Chinese Medicine Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:44788. [PMID: 28317886 PMCID: PMC5357901 DOI: 10.1038/srep44788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adjuvants are common component for many vaccines but there are still few licensed for human use due to low efficiency or side effects. The present work adopted Systems Pharmacology analysis as a new strategy to screen adjuvants from traditional Chinese medicine. Ophiocordyceps sinensis has been used for many years in China and other Asian countries with many biological properties, but the pharmacological mechanism has not been fully elucidated. First in this study, 190 putative targets for 17 active compounds in Ophiocordyceps sinensis were retrieved and a systems pharmacology-based approach was applied to provide new insights into the pharmacological actions of the drug. Pathway enrichment analysis found that the targets participated in several immunological processes. Based on this, we selected cordycepin as a target compound to serve as an adjuvant of the hepatitis B vaccine because the existing vaccine often fails to induce an effective immune response in many subjects. Animal and cellular experiments finally validated that the new vaccine simultaneously improves the humoral and cellular immunity of BALB/c mice without side effects. All this results demonstrate that cordycepin could work as adjuvant to hepatitis b vaccine and systems-pharmacology analysis could be used as a new method to select adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Baoxiu Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Naishuo Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
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Synergistic Interactions between Hepatitis B Virus RNase H Antagonists and Other Inhibitors. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.02441-16. [PMID: 27956427 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02441-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Combination therapies are standard for management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections; however, no such therapies are established for human hepatitis B virus (HBV). Recently, we identified several promising inhibitors of HBV RNase H (here simply RNase H) activity that have significant activity against viral replication in vitro Here, we investigated the in vitro antiviral efficacy of combinations of two RNase H inhibitors with the current anti-HBV drug nucleoside analog lamivudine, with HAP12, an experimental core protein allosteric modulator, and with each other. Anti-HBV activities of the compounds were tested in a HepG2-derived cell line by monitoring intracellular core particle DNA levels, and cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay. The antiviral efficiencies of the drug combinations were evaluated using the median-effect equation derived from the mass-action law principle and combination index theorem of Chou and Talalay. We found that combinations of two RNase H inhibitors from different chemical classes were synergistic with lamivudine against HBV DNA synthesis. Significant synergism was also observed for the combination of the two RNase H inhibitors. Combinations of RNase H inhibitors with HAP12 had additive antiviral effects. Enhanced cytotoxicity was not observed in the combination experiments. Because of these synergistic and additive effects, the antiviral activity of combinations of RNase H inhibitors with drugs that act by two different mechanisms and with each other can be achieved by administering the compounds in combination at doses below the respective single drug doses.
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Wang J, Su C, Liu R, Liu B, Khan IU, Xie J, Zhu N. A Pre-Clinical Safety Evaluation of SBP (HBsAg-Binding Protein) Adjuvant for Hepatitis B Vaccine. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170313. [PMID: 28103328 PMCID: PMC5245819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although adjuvants are a common component of many vaccines, there are few adjuvants licensed for use in humans due to concerns about their toxic effects. There is a need to develop new and safe adjuvants, because some existing vaccines have low immunogenicity among certain patient groups. In this study, SBP, a hepatitis B surface antigen binding protein that was discovered through screening a human liver cDNA expression library, was introduced into hepatitis B vaccine. A good laboratory practice, non-clinical safety evaluation was performed to identify the side effects of both SBP and SBP-adjuvanted hepatitis B vaccine. The results indicate that SBP could enhance the HBsAg-specific immune response, thus increasing the protection provided by the hepatitis B vaccine. The safety data obtained here warrant further investigation of SBP as a vaccine adjuvant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Caixia Su
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Baoxiu Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Inam Ullah Khan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (NZ); (JX)
| | - Naishuo Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (NZ); (JX)
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Clemente MG, Vajro P. An update on the strategies used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 10:649-58. [PMID: 26752166 DOI: 10.1586/17474124.2016.1139450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in children shows a variety of clinical presentations, which influence its natural course and treatment options. This report provides an overview of the ongoing strategies in pediatric CHB management. Interferon-α represents the first choice of treatment in children showing HBV replication and hepatic inflammation (immune active CHB), while the recommendation is to monitor inactive/immune-tolerant children (normal transaminases and low/absent viral replication). When circumstances preclude the use of Interferon-α and in cases of compensated/decompensated cirrhosis, entecavir for children above 2 years of age or tenofovir for children above 12 years of age are the nucleos(t)ide analogues recommended by the most recent guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Grazia Clemente
- a Pediatric Clinic, Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences , University of Sassari , Sassari , Italy
| | - Pietro Vajro
- b Pediatrics Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery , University of Salerno , Baronissi (Salerno) , Italy
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Liu J, Goicochea P, Block T, Brosgart CL, Donaldson EF, Lenz O, Gee Lim S, Marins EG, Mishra P, Peters MG, Miller V. Advancing the regulatory path on hepatitis B virus treatment and curative research: a stakeholders consultation. J Virus Erad 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/s2055-6640(20)30302-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
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Liu J, Goicochea P, Block T, Brosgart CL, Donaldson EF, Lenz O, Gee Lim S, Marins EG, Mishra P, Peters MG, Miller V. Advancing the regulatory path on hepatitis B virus treatment and curative research: a stakeholders consultation. J Virus Erad 2017; 3:1-6. [PMID: 28275452 PMCID: PMC5337416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B infection remains a significant disease burden around the world, with an estimated two billion individuals infected and 350 million living with chronic hepatitis B. Current antivirals are efficacious, but require lifelong treatment for the majority of infected individuals. The field is galvanised to improve diagnostics and treatment with the goal to develop shorter, finite treatments leading to viral control after treatment discontinuation. Achievement of complete and functional cure is challenged by the complexity of the virus life cycle, the lack of adequate preclinical models, the cccDNA-mediated persistence of HBV in liver cells, the lack of validated biomarkers to predict viral control and cure, and the probable need for combination treatment involving antiviral- and immune-based strategies. Experts from diverse stakeholder groups participating in the HBV Forum (a project of the Forum for Collaborative Research) contributed their expertise and perspective to resolving issues and overcoming barriers in the regulatory path for novel HBV therapeutic strategies; addressing gaps in preclinical models, diagnostics, clinical trial design, biomarkers and endpoints, and public health efforts. Interviewees highlighted the need for open and collaborative ongoing dialogues among stakeholders in a neutral space as a critical process to move the field forwards. The Forum model facilitates dialogue and deliberation of this nature, with dedicated experts from all stakeholder groups participating. The promise of an HBV cure is exciting. Now is the time to work together toward that goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Liu
- Forum for Collaborative Research,
Washington DC,
USA,University of California,
Berkeley School of Public Health,
Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology,
California,
USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Oliver Lenz
- Janssen Research and Development,
Beerse,
Belgium
| | | | | | - Poonam Mishra
- US Food and Drug Administration,
Silver Spring,
MarylandUSA
| | | | - Veronica Miller
- Forum for Collaborative Research,
Washington DC,
USA,Corresponding author: Veronica Miller,
Forum for Collaborative Research,
1608 Rhode Island Ave NW,
Washington, DC20036,
USA
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Menéndez-Arias L, Sebastián-Martín A, Álvarez M. Viral reverse transcriptases. Virus Res 2016; 234:153-176. [PMID: 28043823 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2016.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Reverse transcriptases (RTs) play a major role in the replication of Retroviridae, Metaviridae, Pseudoviridae, Hepadnaviridae and Caulimoviridae. RTs are enzymes that are able to synthesize DNA using RNA or DNA as templates (DNA polymerase activity), and degrade RNA when forming RNA/DNA hybrids (ribonuclease H activity). In retroviruses and LTR retrotransposons (Metaviridae and Pseudoviridae), the coordinated action of both enzymatic activities converts single-stranded RNA into a double-stranded DNA that is flanked by identical sequences known as long terminal repeats (LTRs). RTs of retroviruses and LTR retrotransposons are active as monomers (e.g. murine leukemia virus RT), homodimers (e.g. Ty3 RT) or heterodimers (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RT). RTs lack proofreading activity and display high intrinsic error rates. Besides, high recombination rates observed in retroviruses are promoted by poor processivity that causes template switching, a hallmark of reverse transcription. HIV-1 RT inhibitors acting on its polymerase activity constitute the backbone of current antiretroviral therapies, although novel drugs, including ribonuclease H inhibitors, are still necessary to fight HIV infections. In Hepadnaviridae and Caulimoviridae, reverse transcription leads to the formation of nicked circular DNAs that will be converted into episomal DNA in the host cell nucleus. Structural and biochemical information on their polymerases is limited, although several drugs inhibiting HIV-1 RT are known to be effective against the human hepatitis B virus polymerase. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on reverse transcription in the five virus families and discuss available biochemical and structural information on RTs, including their biosynthesis, enzymatic activities, and potential inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Menéndez-Arias
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alba Sebastián-Martín
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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36
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Block TM, Zhou T, Anbarasan N, Gish R. Evolving New Strategies for the Medical Management of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y) 2016; 12:679-689. [PMID: 28035197 PMCID: PMC5193088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Is a cure for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection possible? Hepatitis C virus infection is now routinely cured medically. There is a growing expectation that new drugs for the management of chronic HBV infection should provide substantial benefit over and above that of current chronic HBV medications, if not be curative. Although the definition of medically induced cure for chronic HBV infection varies, most include sustained off-drug absence of viremia and negativity for other virologic markers. There are currently more than 29 drugs in the pipeline being tested for the management of chronic HBV infection. This article discusses the potential drugs with respect to their possible contributions to achieving medically induced cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Block
- Dr Block and Dr Zhou are professors and project leaders at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mr Anbarasan was affiliated with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute at the time of this article but is now a third-year medical student affiliated with Flushing Hospital and Medical Center in Flushing, New York. Dr Gish is a professor consultant in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University in Stanford, California; principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants, LLC, in San Diego, California; senior medical director at St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona; and chief medical advisor of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
| | - Tianlun Zhou
- Dr Block and Dr Zhou are professors and project leaders at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mr Anbarasan was affiliated with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute at the time of this article but is now a third-year medical student affiliated with Flushing Hospital and Medical Center in Flushing, New York. Dr Gish is a professor consultant in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University in Stanford, California; principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants, LLC, in San Diego, California; senior medical director at St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona; and chief medical advisor of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
| | - Nikhil Anbarasan
- Dr Block and Dr Zhou are professors and project leaders at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mr Anbarasan was affiliated with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute at the time of this article but is now a third-year medical student affiliated with Flushing Hospital and Medical Center in Flushing, New York. Dr Gish is a professor consultant in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University in Stanford, California; principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants, LLC, in San Diego, California; senior medical director at St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona; and chief medical advisor of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert Gish
- Dr Block and Dr Zhou are professors and project leaders at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mr Anbarasan was affiliated with the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute at the time of this article but is now a third-year medical student affiliated with Flushing Hospital and Medical Center in Flushing, New York. Dr Gish is a professor consultant in the Department of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Stanford University in Stanford, California; principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants, LLC, in San Diego, California; senior medical director at St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona; and chief medical advisor of the Hepatitis B Foundation in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
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Boucle S, Bassit L, Ehteshami M, Schinazi RF. Toward Elimination of Hepatitis B Virus Using Novel Drugs, Approaches, and Combined Modalities. Clin Liver Dis 2016; 20:737-749. [PMID: 27742011 PMCID: PMC5119551 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The majority of chronically infected individuals do not achieve a functional and complete cure. Treated persons who achieve a long-term sustained virologic response (undetectable HBV DNA), are still at high risk of developing morbidity and mortality from liver complications. This review focuses on novel, mechanistically diverse anti-HBV therapeutic strategies currently in development or in clinical evaluation, and highlights new combination strategies that may contribute to full elimination of HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA from the infected liver, leading to a complete cure of chronic hepatitis B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastien Boucle
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Center for AIDS Research, Emory University School of Medicine, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Leda Bassit
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Center for AIDS Research, Emory University School of Medicine, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Maryam Ehteshami
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Center for AIDS Research, Emory University School of Medicine, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Raymond F Schinazi
- Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Pediatrics, Center for AIDS Research, Emory University School of Medicine, 1760 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Shih C, Chou SF, Yang CC, Huang JY, Choijilsuren G, Jhou RS. Control and Eradication Strategies of Hepatitis B Virus. Trends Microbiol 2016; 24:739-749. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Tajiri K, Shimizu Y. New horizon for radical cure of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. World J Hepatol 2016; 8:863-873. [PMID: 27478536 PMCID: PMC4958696 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v8.i21.863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2016] [Revised: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
About 250 to 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), and about 700000 patients per year die of HBV-related cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several anti-viral agents, such as interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), have been used to treat this disease. NAs especially have been shown to strongly suppress HBV replication, slowing the progression to cirrhosis and the development of HCC. However, reactivation of HBV replication often occurs after cessation of treatment, because NAs alone cannot completely remove covalently-closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the template of HBV replication, from the nuclei of hepatocytes. Anti-HBV immune responses, in conjunction with interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, were found to eliminate cccDNA, but complete eradication of cccDNA by immune response alone is difficult, as shown in patients who recover from acute HBV infection but often show long-term persistence of small amounts of HBV-DNA in the blood. Several new drugs interfering with the life cycle of HBV in hepatocytes have been developed, with drugs targeting cccDNA theoretically the most effective for radical cure of chronic HBV infection. However, the safety of these drugs should be extensively examined before application to patients, and combinations of several approaches may be necessary for radical cure of chronic HBV infection.
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Vaillant A. Nucleic acid polymers: Broad spectrum antiviral activity, antiviral mechanisms and optimization for the treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis D infection. Antiviral Res 2016; 133:32-40. [PMID: 27400989 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Antiviral polymers are a well-studied class of broad spectrum viral attachment/entry inhibitors whose activity increases with polymer length and with increased amphipathic (hydrophobic) character. The newest members of this class of compounds are nucleic acid polymers whose activity is derived from the sequence independent properties of phosphorothioated oligonucleotides as amphipathic polymers. Although the antiviral mechanisms and broad spectrum antiviral activity of nucleic acid polymers mirror the functionality of other members of this class, they exert in addition a unique post entry activity in hepatitis B infection which inhibits the release of HBsAg from infected hepatocytes. This review provides a general overview of the antiviral polymer class with a focus on nucleic acid polymers and their development as therapeutic agents for the treatment of hepatitis B/hepatitis D. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on ''An unfinished story: from the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for hepatitis B.''.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Vaillant
- Replicor Inc., 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H4P 2R2, Canada.
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41
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Bitton Alaluf M, Shlomai A. New therapies for chronic hepatitis B. Liver Int 2016; 36:775-82. [PMID: 26854115 DOI: 10.1111/liv.13086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), representing a significant public health challenge. Nucleos/tide analogues (NUCs) and interferon alpha (IFNα), the current standard of care for chronic infection, aim at preventing progression of the disease to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death. However, in contrast to the case of hepatitis C virus infection, in which novel antiviral drugs cure the vast majority of treated patients, in regard to HBV, cure is rare due to the unusual persistence of viral DNA in the form of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) within the nucleus of infected cells. Available therapies for HBV require lifelong treatment and surveillance, as reactivation frequently occurs following medication cessation and the occurrence of HCC is decreased but not eliminated, even after years of successful viral suppression. Progress has been made in the development of new therapeutics, and it is likely that only a combination of immune modulators, inhibitors of gene expression and replication and cccDNA-targeting drugs will eradicate chronic infection. This review aims to summarize the state of the art in HBV drug research highlighting those agents with the greatest potential for success based on in vitro as well as on data from clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Bitton Alaluf
- Department of Medicine D, Beilinson Hospital Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Amir Shlomai
- Department of Medicine D, Beilinson Hospital Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.,The Liver Institute, Beilinson Hospital Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.,The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Block TM, Alter HJ, London WT, Bray M. A historical perspective on the discovery and elucidation of the hepatitis B virus. Antiviral Res 2016; 131:109-23. [PMID: 27107897 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The discovery in 1965 of the "Australia antigen," subsequently identified as the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), was such a watershed event in virology that it is often thought to mark the beginning of hepatitis research, but it is more accurately seen as a critical breakthrough in a long effort to understand the pathogenesis of infectious hepatitis. A century earlier, Virchow provided an authoritative explanation of "catarrhal jaundice," which did not consider an infectious etiology, but the transmission of jaundice by human serum was clearly identified in two outbreaks in 1885, and the distinction between "infectious" and "serum" hepatitis was recognized by the early 1920s. The inability to culture a virus or reproduce either syndrome in laboratory animals led to numerous studies in human volunteers; by the end of World War II, it was known that the diseases were caused by different filterable agents, and the terms "hepatitis A" and "B" were introduced in 1947 (though some long-incubation cases then designated B must in retrospect have been hepatitis C). The development of a number of liver function tests during the 1950s led to the recognition of anicteric infections and the existence of chronic carriers, but little more could be done until an infectious agent had been identified. Once Blumberg and colleagues had found a specific viral marker, the vast amount of accumulated epidemiologic and clinical data, together with huge numbers of stored serum samples, enabled rapid progress in understanding hepatitis B, and revealed the existence of a vast population of chronically infected people in Asia, Oceania and Africa. In this article, we place the identification of the Australia antigen within the historical context of research on viral hepatitis. Following a chronological review from 1865 to 1965, we summarize how the discovery led to improved safety of blood transfusion, the development of a highly effective vaccine and the eventual identification of the hepatitis C, D and E viruses. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "An unfinished story: from the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for chronic hepatitis B."
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Block
- Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, 3805 Old Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902, USA.
| | - Harvey J Alter
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Mike Bray
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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O’Connell S, Lillis D, Cotter A, O’Dea S, Tuite H, Fleming C, Crowley B, Fitzgerald I, Dalby L, Barry H, Shields D, Norris S, Plunkett PK, Bergin C. Opt-Out Panel Testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in an Urban Emergency Department: A Pilot Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150546. [PMID: 26967517 PMCID: PMC4788349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies suggest 2 per 1000 people in Dublin are living with HIV, the level above which universal screening is advised. We aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a universal opt-out HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C testing programme for Emergency Department patients and to describe the incidence and prevalence of blood-borne viruses in this population. METHODS An opt-out ED blood borne virus screening programme was piloted from March 2014 to January 2015. Patients undergoing blood sampling during routine clinical care were offered HIV 1&2 antibody/antigen assay, HBV surface antigen and HCV antibody tests. Linkage to care where necessary was co-ordinated by the study team. New diagnosis and prevalence rates were defined as the new cases per 1000 tested and number of positive tests per 1000 tested respectively. RESULTS Over 45 weeks of testing, of 10,000 patient visits, 8,839 individual patient samples were available for analysis following removal of duplicates. A sustained target uptake of >50% was obtained after week 3. 97(1.09%), 44(0.49%) and 447(5.05%) HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C tests were positive respectively. Of these, 7(0.08%), 20(0.22%) and 58(0.66%) were new diagnoses of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C respectively. The new diagnosis rate for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 0.8, 2.26 and 6.5 per 1000 and study prevalence for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C was 11.0, 5.0 and 50.5 per 1000 respectively. CONCLUSIONS Opt-out blood borne viral screening was feasible and acceptable in an inner-city ED. Blood borne viral infections were prevalent in this population and newly diagnosed cases were diagnosed and linked to care. These results suggest widespread blood borne viral testing in differing clinical locations with differing population demographic risks may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah O’Connell
- Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darren Lillis
- Emergency Medicine Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aoife Cotter
- Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Siobhan O’Dea
- Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helen Tuite
- Infectious Diseases Department, Galway University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Catherine Fleming
- Infectious Diseases Department, Galway University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brendan Crowley
- Microbiology Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ian Fitzgerald
- Microbiology Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Linda Dalby
- Microbiology Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helen Barry
- Microbiology Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darragh Shields
- Emergency Medicine Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Suzanne Norris
- Hepatology Department, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Colm Bergin
- Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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44
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Qiu Y, Wang DM, Lin ZN. Hepatitis B virus X protein and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2016; 24:1040-1047. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v24.i7.1040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is closely related to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. China is a country with a high prevalence of HBV infection, where the infection rate is up to 60%-70%, bringing great threat and harm to public health. What's worse is that HBV infection is the main etiology factor of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying mechanisms of virus-induced tumor formation remain controversial. Numerous studies indicate that HBV X protein (HBx) plays a prominent role in HBV-induced liver cell damage, hepatitis, liver fibrosis and malignant transformation, and is related to liver cancer induced by environmental exposure factors. As a multifunctional regulatory protein, HBx regulates a variety of cell signal transduction pathways, including the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. ER stress refers to the dysfunction of the ER, and misfolded or unfolded proteins gather in the ER. It is noteworthy that the expression of HBx can induce or effect ER stress, although the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This review summarizes the role of HBx in ER stress pathways, providing clues for the liver injury induced by HBV infection.
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45
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Soriano V, Labarga P, de Mendoza C, Fernández-Montero JV, Treviño A, Benítez-Gutiérrez L, Peña JM, Barreiro P. Delta hepatitis: new approaches to therapy. Future Virol 2016. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2015-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection is a neglected disease despite causing the most severe form of viral hepatitis. Over 15 million people are infected worldwide. IFN-α is largely inefficient and poorly tolerated. The discovery of sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide as the cell receptor for HBV (and consequently for HDV) has allowed development of viral entry inhibitors (i.e., myrcludex-B). More recently, prenylation inhibitors (i.e., lonafarnib) that disrupt virion assembly are being tested. At this time, sustained suppression of HDV replication is the primary goal of hepatitis delta treatment, being associated with normalization of liver enzymes and histological improvement. The lack of persistent forms of HDV-RNA could provide unique opportunities for hepatitis delta cure using specific antivirals, even in the face of persistent HBV cccDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Soriano
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Labarga
- Department of Internal Medicine, La Luz Clinic, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen de Mendoza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Puerta de Hierro Research Institute & University Hospital, Majadahonda, Spain
| | | | - Ana Treviño
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Benítez-Gutiérrez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Puerta de Hierro Research Institute & University Hospital, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - José M Peña
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Barreiro
- Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
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46
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47
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Hadžić N, Bansal S. Hepatitis B virus in children: More therapeutic options-but unknown and known unknowns still present. Hepatology 2016; 63:360-2. [PMID: 26361247 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nedim Hadžić
- Pediatric Center for Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition King's College Hospital, London, Denmark Hill, United KIngdom
| | - Sanjay Bansal
- Pediatric Center for Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition King's College Hospital, London, Denmark Hill, United KIngdom
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48
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Zhang L, Liu C, Xiao Y, Chen X. Oxethazaine inhibits hepatitis B virus capsid assembly by blocking the cytosolic calcium-signalling pathway. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:1198-1209. [PMID: 26838678 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem and may progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is currently treated with PEGylated IFN-α2a and nucleoside/nucleotide analogues (NAs). However, PEGylated IFN treatment has problems of high cost, low efficiency and side effects. Long-term administration of NAs is necessary to avoid virus relapse, which can cause drug resistance and side effects. New efforts are now being directed to develop novel anti-HBV drugs targeting either additional viral targets other than viral DNA polymerase or host targets to improve the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we discovered that oxethazaine, approved for clinic use in a few countries such as Japan, India, South Africa and Brazil, can dose-dependently reduce the levels of HBV envelope antigen, extracellular HBV DNA in supernatants and intracellular HBV total DNA. However, the levels of HBV cccDNA and HBV RNAs were not affected by oxethazaine treatment. Further study confirmed that oxethazaine acts on the virus assembly stage of the HBV life cycle. A study of the mechanisms of oxethazaine suggested that this drug inhibits HBV replication and capsid assembly by blocking the cytosolic calcium-signalling pathway. Moreover, oxethazaine could inhibit the replication of lamivudine/entecavir-dual-resistant and adefovir-resistant HBV mutants. In conclusion, our study suggests that oxethazaine may serve as a promising drug, or could be used as a starting point for anti-HBV drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PRChina.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049, PRChina
| | - Chunlan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PRChina
| | - Yu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PRChina.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049, PRChina
| | - Xulin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PRChina.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049, PRChina
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49
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Demma S, Dusheiko G. The current treatment situation and definitions of a cure for chronic HBV infection. Future Virol 2016. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl.15.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
HBV vaccination, while effective in reducing incident chronic disease in endemic regions, will not have the desired impact on the rates of end-stage liver disease in chronically infected persons. Over three decades, IFN-α and nucleoside analogs have reduced the morbidity from the disease. A large reservoir of chronic infection remains. The natural history of HBV infection is still being defined. Understanding the interactions between HBV and the host will be fundamental to achieving higher rates of cure. Curing hepatitis B will require several steps for either eradication, or a functional cure in the host. It is unclear whether covently closed circular DNA chromatin would need to be cleared to cure hepatitis B, or whether low threshold levels would slow the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Demma
- UCL institute of Liver & Digestive Health & Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Medical & Pediatric Sciences, University of Catania, Policlinic, Via S. Sofia No 78, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Geoffrey Dusheiko
- UCL institute of Liver & Digestive Health & Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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50
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Lin G, Zhang K, Li J. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology to HBV. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:26077-86. [PMID: 26540039 PMCID: PMC4661809 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161125950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 240 million people around the world are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Nucleos(t)ide analogs and interferon are the only two families of drugs to treat HBV currently. However, none of these anti-virals directly target the stable nuclear covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which acts as a transcription template for viral mRNA and pre-genomic RNA synthesis and secures virus persistence. Thus, the fact that only a small number of patients treated achieve sustained viral response (SVR) or cure, highlights the need for new therapies against HBV. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 gene editing system can specifically target the conserved regions of the HBV genome. This results in robust viral suppression and provides a promising tool for eradicating the virus. In this review, we discuss the function and application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system as a novel therapy for HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guigao Lin
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Kuo Zhang
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Jinming Li
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
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