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Semin Liver Dis 2012; 32(03): 256-261
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1323631
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Perspectives for a Vaccine against Hepatitis Delta Virus

Michael Roggendorf
1   Institute for Virology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
29 August 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) causes severe hepatitis in carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV). In ~90% of patients, HDV persists together with HBV and causes early development of cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. Worldwide ~15 million people are coinfected with HBV-HDV. Specific defects in the immune response causing persistence of the virus have not been identified. Several approaches to develop a vaccine to prevent superinfection in the preclinical model of the woodchuck have failed. Recent findings show that a DNA prime and viral vectors boost immunization regimen can induce a HDV specific CD8 T cell response and can prevent HDV infection in simultaneous infection of woodchuck hepatitis virus-HDV. The vaccine-induced specific CD8 T cell response is effective in preventing HDV replication and spread in the liver. However, the perspectives for a HDV vaccine against genotype-1 to prevent superinfection are much less promising. The T-cell response induced by the current DNA prime and viral vector boost immunization in the preclinical woodchuck model seems insufficient to prevent the spread of HDV in chronic HBV carriers. A more potent vaccine and repeated vaccinations are necessary to induce a HDV-specific T-cell response, which may prevent superinfection in HBsAg carriers.

Keywords

Hepatitis delta virus - immunopathogenesis - vaccine
 

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