Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Humans and Animals: Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Viral hepatitis (a disease caused by inflammation of the liver) is one of the major threats to human health worldwide. Different groups of viruses that spread via different routes and have a wide range of hosts can cause human hepatitis, causing death and disability. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of people are infected with HBV or HCV, and some of them are infected with both viruses. For HCV infection, the approval of oral antiviral drugs without interferon direct action has revolutionized the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and achieved a cure for HCV infection. However, there is currently no effective vaccine to prevent HCV infection.

Due to co-evolution and species selection between virus and host, humans are the only natural host of HCV. This makes it difficult to construct suitable and easily accessible in vivo animal models of viral infection. For cell culture models, although some cell models can be successfully infected with HCV, there are certain limitations, especially in the study of virus–host interactions or HCV vaccines. As a result, these limitations have greatly hindered research into the underlying mechanisms of HCV infection, as well as the identification of potential targets for HCV vaccines. In addition, the host's different genetic background and the genetic diversity of viruses driven by genomic mutations may also lead to clinical uncertainty in some patients. As a result, there are still many unsolved challenges to achieving the WHO's goal of “eliminating hepatitis”. In view of this, this Special Issue is aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of HCV infection and providing new ideas for prevention and treatment.

This Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

1. Molecular viral pathogenesis of HCV;
2. Cell and animal models of HCV infection;
3. Effects of host and viral genetic variation on HCV infection and treatment;
4. Clinical treatment strategies for HCV;
5. Research on molecular epidemiology and predictive models of HCV;
6. Global health burden and hepatitis C elimination—poor linkage to care (both infants and adults).

Dr. Wikrom W. Karnsakul
Guest Editor

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• hepatitis C virus
• host
• prevention
• treatment
• viral hepatitis