Hepatitis C Virus: From Discovery to Nobel Prize
A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 5993
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The aim of this Special Issue of Viruses aims to present up-to-date reviews of different aspects of chronic hepatitis C, after the discovery of hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis delta virus, and hepatitis E virus. Their epidemiology as well as their pathogenesis have been studied in great detail. The cause of the non-A and non-B post-transfusion hepatitis, however, remained an enigma until the hepatitis C virus was discovered in 1989 by M. Houghton and collaborators, followed by the rapid development of HCV-specific serological and molecular diagnostic assay systems, including HCV genotyping.
HCV infection is endemic worldwide, with about 185 million frequently asymptomatic individuals. It shows a significant geographic variability, with the highest prevalence rates, based on anti-HCV positivity, in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central and East Asia (>3.5%). A low prevalence of HCV infection (<1.5%) has been documented in North America, Tropical Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region.
HCV infection is the most common form of chronic viral hepatitis in the European Union. In the USA, HCV-related mortality has significantly increased between 1999 and 2007 from about 3 to about 5 per 100,000 population with the major risk factors being chronic liver disease, coinfection with HBV or HIV, and alcohol-related conditions.
After decades of interferon-based therapeutic strategies, the availability of direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C of any genotype with HCV elimination rates approaching 95%–100% after 12 weeks. The DAAs include protease inhibitors (e.g., telaprevir, boceprevir, asunaprevir, simeprevir, faldaprevir), non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors (e.g., deleobuvir, filibuvir, setrobuvir, tegobuvir), NS5A inhibitors (e.g., daclatasvir, ledipasvir), and NS5B polymerase inhibitors (e.g., sofosbuvir, mericitabine).
Our ability to effectively treat chronic viral hepatitis C has resulted in a better control of this infection. It is now possible to prevent hepatitis B but not hepatitis C, and to cure hepatitis C, with the perspective to meet the World Health Organization goal of elimination of HCV infection by 2030. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine available to date.
Prof. Dr. Hubert E. Blum
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- viral hepatitis
- hepatitis virus A–E
- liver cirrhosis
- hepatocellular carcinoma
- antiviral agents
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