Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health issue, affecting over 200 million people worldwide. Chronic HBV infection can lead to severe liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite the availability of antiviral therapies like nucleos(t)ide analogs, complete viral clearance remains difficult. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of HBV infection, particularly the interactions between HBV and host factors, is essential for developing new therapeutic strategies. Interferon (IFN) is an immunomodulatory drug used to treat chronic HBV infection. It has both direct antiviral and immune-enhancing effects. However, its efficacy varies widely among patients, and it often causes significant side effects, such as flu-like symptoms, depression, and bone marrow suppression. Despite its clinical use, the precise molecular mechanisms by which interferon interacts with host factors to combat HBV are still not fully understood. Host factors play a critical role in the HBV life cycle, influencing viral entry, replication, assembly, and release. Recent advances in technologies such as CRISPR screening, RNA interference, and proteomics have identified various host factors that affect HBV infection. However, much remains to be learned about how these factors regulate different stages of the HBV life cycle, and how they are modulated by interferon treatment.

This research topic seeks to explore the latest research on host factors involved in the HBV life cycle and their role in interferon therapy, including the mechanisms behind interferon’s effects and its associated side effects. The topic will focus on screening and mechanistic studies that shed light on how host factors influence HBV infection and on how interferon interacts with these factors. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, and Mini-review articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following topics:

1. Screening and Identification of Host Factors: Research articles that use high-throughput technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9 screening, RNA interference, or proteomics, to identify host factors that are essential for various stages of the HBV life cycle (entry, replication, assembly, or release).

2. Mechanistic Studies of Host Factors: Papers that provide in-depth mechanistic insights into how specific host factors regulate HBV replication and infection. This could include studies focusing on how these factors interact with viral components or host cellular machinery to modulate the HBV life cycle.

3. Interferon and Host Factor Interactions: Research that investigates how interferon therapy affects host factors involved in the HBV life cycle. Studies exploring how interferon enhances or suppresses the function of these host factors to inhibit HBV infection are highly encouraged.

4. Mechanisms of Interferon-Related Side Effects: Articles that delve into the molecular mechanisms behind the side effects associated with interferon therapy. Special interest will be given to studies that link host factors to the adverse effects of interferon treatment, aiming to uncover potential ways to mitigate these side effects.

5. Therapeutic Implications of Targeting Host Factors: Studies that explore host factors as potential therapeutic targets for HBV treatment. This could include novel approaches to modulating these factors using small molecules, gene editing, or other therapeutic strategies, either alone or in combination with interferon.

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Frontiers in Immunology

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