Hepatitis B virus biology and life cycle.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) specifically infects hepatocytes and causes severe liver diseases. The HBV life cycle is unique in that the genomic DNA (relaxed-circular partially double-stranded DNA: rcDNA) is converted to a molecular template DNA (covalently closed circular DNA: cccDNA) to amplify a viral RNA intermediate, which is then reverse-transcribed back to viral DNA. The highly stable characteristics of cccDNA result in chronic infection and a poor rate of cure. This complex life cycle of HBV offers a variety of targets to develop antiviral agents. We provide here an update on the current knowledge of HBV biology and its life cycle, which may help to identify new antiviral targets.
['Tsukuda|Senko|S|', 'Watashi|Koichi|K|']
D000998:Antiviral Agents D004279:DNA, Viral D056945:Hep G2 Cells D006509:Hepatitis B D006515:Hepatitis B virus D022781:Hepatocytes D000076662:Host Microbial Interactions D006801:Humans D014779:Virus Replication
Life cycle HBV cccDNA Entry NTCP Replication