Viral hepatitis update: Progress and perspectives

Table 3 Hepatitis B virus highlights

	Hepatitis B virus
1	Several host factors, such as male gender, alcohol intake, and obesity have been associated to worse disease progression. Current challenge implies finding genetic markers to predict the course of HBV infection. In this line, different SNPs associated with the outcome of HBV infection have been recently identified
2	In the last years, new diagnostic assays have been developed in the framework of the diagnosis of HBV infection. The implementation of quantitative HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBV-RNA in routine clinical practice could probably improve the management of patients with CHB
3	Current antiviral treatments have some shortcomings, such as poor SVR or prolonged schedules. Direct antiviral agents against different HBV targets, including HBV cccDNA, are under evaluation. Moreover, immunemodulatory therapies to overcome host immune impairment observed in chronic infections are being investigated
4	Although a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available since the 1980s, an inadequate response is achieved in particular settings. New and more potent adjuvants, as well as formulations that include alternative viral antigens could improve the response rate vaccination
5	The development of new antiviral therapies that enables achieving functional cure as well as accurate diagnostic methods and more effective vaccines will contribute with the purpose of the WHO to eliminate by 2030 hepatitis as a global health problem

HBV: Hepatitis B virus; SNP: Single nucleotide polymorphisms; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; HBcAg: Hepatitis B core Antigen; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; SVR: Sustained virological response; WHO: World Health Organization.