What is it about?
This paper reveals new features about glycoprotein E2 of hepatitis C virus that are key to generating bNAbs in experimental animals.
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Why is it important?
Broadly neutralizing antibodies can prevent infection against multiple genotypes of hepatitis C. As hepatitis C circulates as 7 diverse genotypes, a vaccine must elicit bNAbs that confer protection against these circulating genotypes. It is believed that bNAbs do not develop rapidly in all humans infected with HCV because the virus has evolved ways to prevent their generation. Thus vaccines might require careful engineering so that they favour the generation of bNAbs and limit the formation of non-neutralizing antibodies (non-NAbs). This paper describes a form of glycoprotein E2 that enhances the production of bNAbs whilst limiting the production of non-NAbs.
Perspectives
Whilst direct acting antivirals for HCV can treat those already infected, we urgently need vaccines that prevent infection in both naive people and those who have successfully cleared HCV to prevent reinfection. To reach the targets set by the World Health organization for the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030, will require a combination of diagnosis, treatment, harm reduction and vaccines to break the cycle of hepatitis C infection in the human population.
Dr Heidi E Drummer
Burnet Institute
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The core domain of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 generates potent cross-neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs, Hepatology, February 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/hep.28989.
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