©The Author(s) 2019. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Infect Dis. Aug 15, 2019; 9(2): 11-22
Published online Aug 15, 2019. doi: 10.5495/wjcid.v9.i2.11
Published online Aug 15, 2019. doi: 10.5495/wjcid.v9.i2.11
Towards the worldwide eradication of hepatitis B virus infection: A combination of prophylactic and therapeutic factors
Caterina Sagnelli, Evangelista Sagnelli, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples 80131, Italy
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to this paper with conception and design of the study, literature review and analysis, drafting, critical revision and editing, and final approval of the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Corresponding author: Caterina Sagnelli, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via L. Armanni 5, Naples 80131, Italy. caterina.sagnelli@unicampania.it
Telephone: +39-81-5666719 Fax: +39-81-5666207
Received: April 30, 2019
Peer-review started: May 7, 2019
First decision: June 18, 2019
Revised: June 22, 2019
Accepted: July 16, 2019
Article in press: July 17, 2019
Published online: August 15, 2019
Processing time: 107 Days and 11.8 Hours
Peer-review started: May 7, 2019
First decision: June 18, 2019
Revised: June 22, 2019
Accepted: July 16, 2019
Article in press: July 17, 2019
Published online: August 15, 2019
Processing time: 107 Days and 11.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: The spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has recently decreased in several countries due to the universal HBV vaccination of new-born babies and to the extended use of HBV nucleos(t)ide analogues with high genetic barrier to viral resistance. However, HBV vaccination and extensive educational and screening programs for at risk populations should be implemented predominantly in developing countries. New drugs targeting more than one HBV-lifecycle steps and of some new immunotherapeutic agents are under investigation with the aim of obtaining the clearance of hepatocytic covalent closed circular DNA through their synergistic action.