Recent advances in the study of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA

• 来源期刊: 中国病毒学
• 年，卷（期）: 2017,（6）
• 页码范围: 454-464
• 页数: 11页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1007/s12250-017-4009-4

摘要

Chronic hepatitis B infection is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and a total cure is yet to be achieved.The viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is the key to establish a persistent infection within hepatocytes.Current antiviral strategies have no effect on the pre-existing cccDNA reservoir.Therefore,the study of the molecular mechanism of cccDNA formation is becoming a major focus of HBV research.This review summarizes the current advances in cccDNA molecular biology and the latest studies on the elimination or inactivation of cccDNA,including three major areas:(1) epigenetic regulation of cccDNA by HBV X protein,(2) immune-mediated degradation,and (3) genome-editing nucleases.All these aspects provide clues on how to finally attain a cure for chronic hepatitis B infection.