Title:Potential Drug Targets Against Hepatitis B Virus Based on Both Virus and Host Factors
Volume: 20
Issue: 16
Author(s): Bing-Yi Zhang, Dan-Ping Chai, Yi-Hang Wu*, Li-Peng Qiu, Yong-Yong Zhang, Zi-Hong Ye and Xiao-Ping Yu
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018,China
Keywords:
Hepatitis B virus, viral target, host target, virus-host interactions, immune target, drug design.
Abstract:
Background: Hepatitis B is a very harmful and epidemic disease caused by hepatitis B virus
(HBV). Although an effective anti-HBV vaccine is available, chronic infection poses still a huge
health burden in the whole world. The present anti-HBV drugs including nucleoside analogues and interferonalpha
have their limitations without exception. There is no effective drug and therapeutic
method that can really and truly cure hepatitis B so far. The variability of HBV genome results in that
a significant number of patients develop drug resistance during the long-term use of anti-HBV drugs.
Hence, it is urgently needed to discover novel targets and develop new drugs against hepatitis B.
Objective: The review aims to provide the theory support for designing of the anti-HBV innovative
drugs by offering a summary of the current situation of antiviral potential targets.
Results and Conclusion: Since HBV is obligate intracellular parasite, and as such it depends on host
cellular components and functions to replicate itself. The targeting both virus and host might be a
novel therapeutic option for hepatitis B. Accordingly, we analyse the advances in the study of the potential
drug targets for anti-HBV infection, focusing on targeting virus genome, on targeting host cellular
functions and on targeting virus-host proteins interactions, respectively. Meanwhile, the immune
targets against chronic hepatitis B are also emphasized. In short, the review provides a summary of antiviral
therapeutic strategies to target virus factors, host factors and immune factors for future designing
of the innovative drug against HBV infection.