Viral Hepatitis: Past and Future of HBV and HDV

Viral hepatitis is a significant disease afflicting hundreds of millions of people. Hepatitiscausing viruses initiate significant morbidity and mortality by establishing both acute and chronic infections, and several of these viruses are specifically associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Consequently, intense research efforts are focused on increasing our understanding of virus biology and on improving antiviral therapy. Even though viral hepatitis can be caused by several viruses from a range of virus families,thediscoveryofcomponentsofthehepatitisB virus(HBV)becameacatalyst forthe developmentofdiagnosticassaysthatdifferentiatebetweenthesevirusesaswellasstrategies for novel methods of vaccine development. Improvements in both the treatment and prevention of viral hepatitis are advancing rapidly. However, HBV, along with the associated infection by the hepatitis D virus, is still among the most common pathogens afflicting humans.