New treatment approach found for hepatitis B
DZIF scientists from the Heinrich Pette Institute (HPI), Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology have identified two sequences in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome that could be targeted for improving so-called genome editing systems.
Modern genome editing methods, including the so-called CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease system, are considered promising approaches for developing new therapies against viral infections, because they can identify specific DNA segments and subsequently split them.
Prof Joachim Hauber, DZIF scientist and head of the Department “Antiviral Strategies” at the HPI is happy: “Our findings raise hopes that, with the advancement of designer nucleases such as the CRISPR/Cas9n system, it will be possible to completely cure chronic HBV infections in the foreseeable future.”
These are good prospects for around 350 million people worldwide suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection, because current therapies are expensive, lengthy and have considerable side-effects.
