Hepatitis C Virus Vaccine: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection and continues to be a global problem despite advances in antiviral therapeutics. Current treatments fail to prevent reinfection and remain expensive, limiting their use to developed countries, and the asymptomatic nature of acute infection can result in individuals not receiving treatment and unknowingly spreading HCV. A prophylactic vaccine is therefore needed to control this virus. Thirty years since the discovery of HCV, there have been major gains in understanding the molecular biology and elucidating the immunological mechanisms that underpin spontaneous viral clearance, aiding rational vaccine design. This review discusses the challenges facing HCV vaccine design and the most recent and promising candidates being investigated.

Hepatitis C Virus Entry: An Intriguingly Complex and Highly Regulated Process

“…Deciphering the essential role played by host factors in viral entry has led to the development of host-targeting entry inhibitors (reviewed in [18,20,145]), a class of antivirals that not only prevent HCV infection, but may also in some cases clear established HCV infection [154]. Increasing knowledge about the viral and host determinants involved in virus-host interactions leading to viral entry also provided valuable information for the understanding of viral escape from neutralizing antibodies and the design of a protective vaccine (reviewed in [160,161], which is a challenge that still remains to be addressed for the global eradication of HCV [3,4]. Furthermore, what has been learned from the study of HCV entry may contribute to understanding the entry pathways of other, less well-characterized, viruses.…”

Recommendations for vaccination in multiple myeloma: a consensus of the European Myeloma Network

“…Patients with detectable disease documented by hepatitis C virus RNA should receive therapy with direct-acting antivirals, if possible before start of myeloma therapy. In spite of intensive research, there is no vaccine available today [ 46 ].…”

Anti-COVID-19 terpenoid from marine sources: A docking, admet and molecular dynamics study

“…At this moment, scientific community of various countries are trying to develop vaccine for the virus [ 1 , 2 ]. However, preparation of vaccine for RNA viruses is very difficult work which can be understand from case of HIV, Influenza, Hepatitis C etc [ 3 , 4 ]. The world is suffering from the crisis of clinically effective anti-COVID-19 vaccines or medicines for prevention and treatment.…”