Research Progress in Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Vaccination of Viral Hepatitis in the Post-COVID Era

Dear Colleagues, 

Viral hepatitis (hepatitis A–E) is a significant global public health threat, affecting millions of people worldwide. Hepatitis A and E can cause an acute infection, fulminant hepatitis and death. The infection of hepatitis B, C or D virus is responsible for chronical viral hepatitis that can develop into cirrhosis and liver cancer, which has ranked among the top 20 causes of death. Though there are safe and effective vaccines for the prevention of some types of viral hepatitis (A, B and E), the WHO estimates that there are millions of people with new infections each year. There is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C. Though there are oral antiviral agents for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C, the access to diagnosis and treatment is low in some developing countries. Efforts to develop novel diagnostic markers, vaccines and antiviral drugs are urgently needed. While a goal of the global elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030 was set up by the WHO in 2016, there are major gaps and challenges in the research and practice, such as the lack of high-quality epidemiological data and disparities in access to diagnostic testing with a linkage to the prevention and care and treatment services. This is especially true in the post-COVID era, in which the attention of the WHO and the world which was diverted by the pandemic is returning to the “old” and long-lasting public health problem, e.g., viral hepatitis. 

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of recent research progress in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and vaccination of viral hepatitis in the post-COVID era, which will inform the improvement of the current diagnosis, drug development and vaccine administration. This Special Issue will also provide new data and a timely update which will be helpful for the assessment of the status of different countries/regions and a revision of national or even global goals and action plans, thereby contributing to the global elimination of viral hepatitis. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: 

• Epidemiological features of viral hepatitis and the related end-stage liver diseases after the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection/treatment on diagnosis, treatment and prevention/vaccination of viral hepatitis and related end-stage liver diseases;
• Novel biomarkers for diagnosis of viral hepatitis and related end-stage liver diseases;
• Novel technologies improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention/vaccination of viral hepatitis and related end-stage liver diseases;
• Novel antiviral drugs and/or strategies against viral hepatitis;
• Immune responses in vaccinated populations;
• Evolution of drug-resistant and immune-escape hepatitis virus variants in COVID-19 cases. 

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Benjamin M. Liu
Guest Editor

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• viral hepatitis
• diagnosis
• treatment
• vaccination
• end-stage liver diseases
• post-COVID era