Unsolved Challenges in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: Host-Virus Interaction, Molecular Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies

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Background

Given the success of Research Topic Unsolved Challenges in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C: From Prevention to Treatment and the rapidly evolving subject area, we are pleased to announce the launch of Volume II.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections represent the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It has been estimated that hundreds of millions of people are infected with HBV or HCV, and some of them are co-infected with both viruses. Over the past decades, the effective implementation of hepatitis B vaccination programs has significantly reduced the HBV carrier rate and hepatitis B-related morbidity and mortality. In addition, the combination of nucleoside analogs with immunomodulators greatly improved long-term survival and quality of life. However, there were more than 820 000 HBV-related deaths occurred worldwide in 2019. As for hepatitis C, the approval of oral interferon-free direct-acting antivirals revolutionized the therapy of chronic hepatitis C and achieved the cure of hepatitis C. However, an effective vaccine for hepatitis C prevention is unavailable. Thus, there are still many unsolved challenges to achieve the goal of "eliminate hepatitis" proposed by WHO.

Due to the co-evolution and species selection between virus and host, humans are the only natural host of HBV/HCV. This poses difficulties in constructing suitable and highly accessible in vivo animal models for both viruses infection, mainly due to the ethical difficulties and high costs of gorillas as experimental animal models. As for the cell culture models, although some cell models can be successfully infected with HBV or HCV, there are still some limitations, especially for the research on virus-host interactions or HCV vaccines. These limitations thus greatly hinder the studies of the underlying mechanisms, as well as the identification of potential targets for HCV vaccines and agents against hepatitis B. Moreover, the different genetic backgrounds of the host and the genetic diversity of viruses driven by genomic mutations may also lead to clinical uncertainties in some patients. In recent years, some scientific advances have been made in these fields. In fact, to achieve the ultimate goal of eliminating hepatitis, it is important to note that the strategies should be holistic and multi-pronged.

Therefore, this Research Topic focuses on hepatitis B and hepatitis C, aim to investigate the interaction between HBV/HCV and the host, elucidate the molecular pathogenesis, and provide great insight into the strategies for prevention and treatment. We welcome submissions of all types of articles (Brief Research Reports, Editorials, General Commentaries, Hypothesis and Theory articles, Methods papers, Mini Reviews, Opinions, Original Research papers, Perspectives and Reviews). More specifically, topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Interaction between the host and HBV/HCV
• Molecular viral pathogenesis of hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• Cell and animal models for HBV and HCV infection research
• Deep neural network analysis for HBV/HCV infection research
• Construction, generation, and prediction of immune molecular network based on graph representation learning for HBV/HCV infection research
• Effects of host and viral genetic variation on HBV/HCV infection and treatment
• Promising biomarkers for monitoring HBV/HCV infection
• Identification of novel targets for lead compounds or new small molecule agents to accelerate anti-HBV drug discovery
• Clinical treatment strategies for hepatitis B
• Strategies for Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines

Manuscripts with great insights into end-stage liver diseases caused by HBV/HCV, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with HBV/HCV infection, HBV/HCV infections in extrahepatic organs, and other HBV/HCV-related liver diseases are also highly welcome.

Keywords: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, host, end-stage liver disease, liver cancer

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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