Tag: <span>DNA virus</span>

Chronic viral infections are major healthcare issues. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human papilloma virus (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are prime examples of viruses which cause chronic infections. HBV is a member of a family of DNA viruses that primarily infect liver cells which can lead to acute or chronic liver disease. Approximately 3–5% of adults and 90% of infants infected by HBV become chronic carriers of the virus. More than 350 million people worldwide are chronically infected by HBV. Chronic HBV carriers have a significant probability of developing cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. There are effective prophylactic vaccines for HBV infection, but these have proven ineffective against chronic infections. Antiviral agents are effective in controlling the viremia, but the emergence of mutant strains of the virus is a cause for concern…