Hepatitis C virus vaccine: Challenges and prospects

Duncan, Joshua D.; Urbanowicz, Richard A.; Tarr, Alexander W.; Ball, Jonathan K.

Abstract

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. 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.

Citation

Duncan, J. D., Urbanowicz, R. A., Tarr, A. W., & Ball, J. K. (2020). Hepatitis C virus vaccine: Challenges and prospects. Vaccines, 8(1), Article 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010090

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Feb 4, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 17, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 24, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 25, 2020
• Journal: Vaccines
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-393X
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 90
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8010090
• Keywords: hepatitis C virus; vaccines; neutralising antibodies; animal models; immune responses
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4006946
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/8/1/90