Hepatitis C Virus 2024

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 3147

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatitis C (HCV) has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the major public health problems worldwide. Hepatotropic viruses are currently estimated to be responsible for the deaths of more than one million people each year, making them comparable in mortality to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, tuberculosis, and malaria. According to recent epidemiological reports, 59 million people are living with HCV worldwide. The introduction of highly effective and safe direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has radically changed the landscape and outlook for HCV treatment. In addition, this revolution on an unprecedented scale in the history of medicine has stimulated epidemiological research and encouraged research teams to create simulations and predictions. In 2016, WHO initiated an ambitious plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Unfortunately, the implementation of this ambitious plan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a reduction in the number of screening tests performed and the number of patients treated for viral hepatitis. This Special Issue of Viruses aims to provide updated information on the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment, and elimination of HCV infection as a global health threat.

Prof. Dr. Robert Flisiak
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • hepatitis
  • HCV
  • liver
  • epidemiology
  • diagnostics
  • therapy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1931 KiB  
Article
Hepatitis C Virus as a Possible Helper Virus in Human Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection
by Maria Grazia Crobu, Paolo Ravanini, Clotilde Impaloni, Claudia Martello, Olivia Bargiacchi, Christian Di Domenico, Giulia Faolotto, Paola Macaluso, Alessio Mercandino, Miriam Riggi, Vittorio Quaglia, Stefano Andreoni, Mario Pirisi and Carlo Smirne
Viruses 2024, 16(6), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16060992 - 20 Jun 2024
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Abstract
Previous studies reported that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) could help disseminate the hepatitis D virus (HDV) in vivo through the unrelated hepatitis B virus (HBV), but with essentially inconclusive results. To try to shed light on this still-debated topic, 146 anti-HCV-positive subjects [...] Read more.
Previous studies reported that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) could help disseminate the hepatitis D virus (HDV) in vivo through the unrelated hepatitis B virus (HBV), but with essentially inconclusive results. To try to shed light on this still-debated topic, 146 anti-HCV-positive subjects (of whom 91 HCV/HIV co-infected, and 43 with prior HCV eradication) were screened for anti-HDV antibodies (anti-HD), after careful selection for negativity to any serologic or virologic marker of current or past HBV infection. One single HCV/HIV co-infected patient (0.7%) tested highly positive for anti-HD, but with no positive HDV-RNA. Her husband, in turn, was a HCV/HIV co-infected subject with a previous contact with HBV. While conducting a thorough review of the relevant literature, the authors attempted to exhaustively describe the medical history of both the anti-HD-positive patient and her partner, believing it to be the key to dissecting the possible complex mechanisms of HDV transmission from one subject to another, and speculating that in the present case, it may have been HCV itself that behaved as an HDV helper virus. In conclusion, this preliminary research, while needing further validation in large prospective studies, provided some further evidence of a role of HCV in HDV dissemination in humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis C Virus 2024)
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Review

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24 pages, 847 KiB  
Review
Like a Rolling Stone? A Review on Spontaneous Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
by Piotr Rzymski, Michał Brzdęk, Krystyna Dobrowolska, Barbara Poniedziałek, Aleksandra Murawska-Ochab, Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk and Robert Flisiak
Viruses 2024, 16(9), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16091386 - 30 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) without the need for medical intervention, known as spontaneous clearance (SC), occurs at a significantly lower rate than in the case of hepatitis B virus infection and only in selected individuals, such as reportedly in Keith Richards, [...] Read more.
Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) without the need for medical intervention, known as spontaneous clearance (SC), occurs at a significantly lower rate than in the case of hepatitis B virus infection and only in selected individuals, such as reportedly in Keith Richards, a guitarist of The Rolling Stones. The present paper provides an updated narrative review of the research devoted to the phenomenon in order to identify and discuss the demographic, lifestyle-related, clinical, viral genotype-related, and host genetic factors underpinning the SC occurrence. The body of evidence indicates that the likelihood of SC is decreased in older individuals, men, Black people, HIV-coinfected subjects, and intravenous drug and alcohol users. In turn, HBV coinfection and specific polymorphism of the genes encoding interferon lambda 3 (particularly at rs8099917) and interferon lambda 4 (particularly at rs12979860) and HLA genes increase the odds of SC. Numerous other host-specific genetic factors could be implicated in SC, but the evidence is limited only to certain ethnic groups and often does not account for confounding variables. SC of HCV infection is a complex process arising from a combination of various factors, though a genetic component may play a leading role in some cases. Understanding factors influencing the likelihood of this phenomenon justifies better surveillance of high-risk groups, decreasing health inequities in particular ethnic groups, and may guide the development of a prophylactic vaccine, which at present is not available, or novel therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms underlying SC and to explore potential interventions that could enhance this natural antiviral response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis C Virus 2024)
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