= Abstract = A high rate of viral turnover, combined with an error‐prone polymerase, results in an increased frequency of mutational events during hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, resulting in a diverse population of progeny virus (quasispecies). Not suprising then, particular selection pressures, both from within (host immune clearance) or from outside (vaccines and antivirals) the host, r...

The newborn immune system is characterized by an impaired Th1-associated immune response. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmitted from infected mothers to newborns is thought to exploit the newborns' immune system immaturity by inducing a state of immune tolerance that facilitates HBV persistence. Contrary to this hypothesis, we demonstrate here that HBV exposure in utero triggers a state of traine...

Background: The leading cause of mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome is high rate nucleotide misincorporation during reverse transcription. Most were found within “a” determinant S gene’s major hydrophilic region (MHR). They resulted escape mutants due to amino acid changes MHR. However, outside MHR can also trigger mutants. Objectives: This study focused on further molecular studie...

BACKGROUND Currently, no licensed therapy can thoroughly eradicate hepatitis B virus (HBV) from the body, including interferon α and inhibitors of HBV reverse-transcription. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) seem to be a promising tool for treating HBV, but had no effect on the pre-existing HBV covalently closed circular DNA. Because it is very difficult to thoroughly eradicate HBV with unique siRN...

BACKGROUND The chronicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is attributed to inappropriate functioning of cell-mediated immunity. Besides the importance of measuring serum HBV DNA and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) as markers of viral replication and exposure, respectively, studies regarding their influence on immune cell status in chronic HBV infection are still scarce. Because such studies of...

UNLABELLED Hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasispecies contain a large number of variants that serve as a reservoir for viral selection under antiviral treatment and the immune response, leading to the acute exacerbation and subsequent development of liver failure. However, there is no clear experimental evidence for a significant role of HBV quasispecies in viral pathogenesis. In the present study, H...

BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects hepatocytes, but the mechanisms of the immune response against the virus and how it affects disease progression are unclear. METHODS We performed studies with BALB/c Rag2-/-Il2rg-/-SirpaNODAlb-uPAtg/tg mice, stably engrafted with human hepatocytes (HUHEP) with or without a human immune system (HIS). HUHEP and HIS-HUHEP mice were given an intra...

Background: Due to high genetic variation in human leukocyte antigen )HLA( alleles, epitope-based vaccines don’t show equal efficacy in different human populations. therefore, we proposed a multi-epitope vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 for Iranian populations. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, the proteins without allergenicity and high antigenicity as well as conservancy level from SARS-CoV...

Remarkable progress has been made in our understanding of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the past 25 years. Availability of sensitive HBV DNA assays and application of sophisticated immunological techniques led to the recognition that HBV replication persists throughout the course of chronic HBV infection, and host immune response plays a pivotal role in HBV...

chronic hepatitis b is still a major public health issue despite the successful prophylactic vaccination attempts. chronicity of hepatitis b virus(hbv) is mainly due to its ability to debilitate host's immune system. therefore, major measures have been taken to stop this process and help patients with chronic hepatitis b infection recover from their illness. while satisfactory results have...