A major new insight into how Hepatitis B virus works could pave the way for new drug treatments for the infection, which is the major cause of liver cancer worldwide.
The team at the Universities of York and Leeds identified an “assembly code” in the genetic material of Hepatitis B virus that allows it to create a protective casing in which it can produce new infectious virus particles.
They found that the signal, generated by ribonucleic acid (RNA), helps viral proteins to overcome an ‘engineering problem’, assembling them into in a particular geometric pattern.
Molecular machine
Professor Reidun Twarock, mathematical biologist at the University of York’s Department of Mathematics and Biology, said: “It is a bit like the chain on a bicycle. If we don’t assemble the chain on the sprockets, it becomes tangled and won’t function. Once assembled correctly, it connects the pedals with the wheels allowing the component parts to work together.
“We see the same process happening between the Hepatitis B RNA signals and the viral proteins. The proteins are attracted by these signals, which then promote their assembly into a precise molecular machine that allows the virus to produce a DNA copy of its genetic material and hence become infectious.”
The virus is transmitted through blood and bodily fluids. It is thought that more than two billion people have been infected worldwide, and around 350 million people remain carriers of the infection, which can, over time, result in their deaths.
Potential drug
The virus occurs in Europe but is much more common in parts of Asia, especially China and Africa. There are more than one million infected people in the USA where treatments can include expensive drugs and even liver transplantation.
Professor Peter Stockley, a structural virologist from the University of Leeds Astbury Centre, said: “There is a vaccine for the virus, but once you have the condition there is no treatment, other than drugs that can reduce symptoms but not change the long-term outlook.
“We often compare the disease to HIV due to the way in which the virus is passed from person-to-person, but unlike HIV there are no effective drugs to improve quality of life outcomes. Now that we know how the virus assembles, we can interrupt the interactions with the RNA signals – a bit like when a twig catches the sprocket on a bike, knocking the chain off.”
Learn more: Scientists step closer to drug treatment for Hepatitis B
The Latest on: Hepatitis B
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Hepatitis B” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
- Ontario to miss Canada’s WHO target to eliminate hepatitis C as a public-health threat by 2030on April 19, 2024 at 1:18 pm
University of Waterloo professor says harm reduction strategies are necessary to achieve the target for new cases ...
- World Liver Day: Hepatitis B is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIVon April 19, 2024 at 3:14 am
HBV is spread by contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person, the same way as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to the WHO. However, HBV is 50 to 100 times more ...
- Get kids jabbed vs hepatitis B, lawmaker urges parentson April 18, 2024 at 10:50 pm
House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin on Thursday urged parents to have their kids vaccinated against hepatitis B to protect them from liver cancer and possibly an outbreak by 2042. The ...
- Hepatitis B Drug Pipeline Research Report 2024on April 18, 2024 at 8:45 am
The "Hepatitis B - Pipeline Insight, 2024" drug pipelines has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.The report outlays comprehensive insights of present clinical development scenario and ...
- Bepirovirsen for Chronic Hepatitis B Drug Pipeline Report 2024: 7MM Market Size, Forecast, and Emerging Insights 2019-2032on April 18, 2024 at 6:21 am
The "Bepirovirsen Market Size, Forecast, and Emerging Insight - 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.This report provides comprehensive insights about bepirovirsen for ...
- 'High-dose steroids a risk for hepatitis B patients'on April 18, 2024 at 1:00 am
The Coroner's Court on Thursday heard that high doses of steroids had increased the risk of a hepatitis B relapse in a liver disease patient who ...
- Vaccinate children against hepatitis B to prevent liver cancer outbreak in 2042 — Garinon April 18, 2024 at 12:16 am
House Deputy Majority Leader and former Health Secretary Janette Garin has stressed the need for children to have three vaccine doses against hepatitis B to prevent a liver cancer outbreak in 2042.
- Vax kids vs hepatitis B to avoid liver cancer outbreak, parents urgedon April 18, 2024 at 12:03 am
Janette Garin now asks them to have kids protected against hepatitis B. She said having their children inoculated against hepatitis B could help avoid a possible liver cancer outbreak in the country.
- Viral hepatitis is a silent killer. It can’t be eliminated if it isn’t trackedon April 17, 2024 at 1:30 am
Before Covid emerged, viral hepatitis killed more people in the United States than all 60 other reportable infectious diseases combined.
- India recorded 3.5 crore hepatitis B and C cases in 2022: WHO reporton April 12, 2024 at 10:30 pm
The WHO's report underscores India's significant struggle with hepatitis B and C, contributing to a global crisis. Urgent actions are needed to combat the rising number of cases and prevent further ...
via Google News and Bing News