An age-structured model of hepatitis B viral infection highlights the potential of different therapeutic strategies.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global health threat, and its elimination by 2030 has been prioritised by the World Health Organisation. Here we present an age-structured model for the immune response to an HBV infection, which takes into account contributions from both cell-mediated and humoral immunity. The model has been validated using published patient data recorded during acute infection. It has been adapted to the scenarios of chronic infection, clearance of infection, and flare-ups via variation of the immune response parameters. The impacts of immune response exhaustion and non-infectious subviral particles on the immune response dynamics are analysed. A comparison of different treatment options in the context of this model reveals that drugs targeting aspects of the viral life cycle

SUBMITTER: Fatehi F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8786976 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature