Hepatitis B virus biology and life cycle
Senko Tsukuda, Koichi Watashi
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) specifically infects hepatocytes and causes severe liver diseases. The HBV life cycle is unique in that the genomic DNA (relaxed-circular partially double-stranded DNA: rcDNA) is converted to a molecular template DNA (covalently closed circular DNA: cccDNA) to amplify a viral RNA intermediate, which is then reverse-transcribed back to viral DNA. The highly stable characteristics of cccDNA result in chronic infection and a poor rate of cure. This complex life cycle of HBV offers a variety of targets to develop antiviral agents. We provide here an update on the current knowledge of HBV biology and its life cycle, which may help to identify new antiviral targets.
Topics & Concepts
cccDNACircular DNAHepatitis B virusViral life cycleVirologyBiologyDNAVirusDNA virusHepatitis BViral replicationGeneticsGenomeGeneHBsAgHepatitis B Virus StudiesHepatitis C virus researchHepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology