Hepatitis B Virus: A Molecular Perspective

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global health problem. The HBV-mediated pathogenesis is a multistep, multi-factorial event involving crucial interplay between the chronically persisting viral factors and the host system. This triggers an immune-elicited regenerative process that eventually leads to chronic liver inflammation, scarring and formation of new tissue. Further, expression of viral antigens modulates cellular signaling, nuclear transactivation and host stress-responsive pathways that produce a cumulative effect in favor of viral survival and replication. Chronic HBV infection in India affects a sizeable population and warrants more epidemiological studies in this area. There is also an urgent need to adopt new measures to limit and manage the infection in view of our low socioeconomic status and ignorance about the disease. This review highlights the role of host and viral factors in pathogenesis and outlines their underlying mechanisms. A better understanding of the viral life cycle, mode of pathogenesis and outcome of the infection should be helpful in devising new strategies to control such wide range of HBV-associated disease and developing better interventional protocols.