Progress made towards curing chronic hepatitis B infection

Researchers are making progress toward a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which causes significant liver disease. A recent study from Chongqing Medical University focuses on the role of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBV persistence. The study examines how cccDNA is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. These findings suggest new therapeutic strategies, such as targeting the HBV protein HBx and using gene-editing technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 to disrupt cccDNA. This research highlights potential new treatments that could work alongside existing antiviral therapies. By targeting cccDNA more effectively, researchers aim to achieve a permanent cure for chronic hepatitis B.