Advances in the detection and clearance of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a worldwide public health problem and current therapeutic drugs cannot completely eliminate the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the liver cell nucleus. The presence of cccDNA leads to the persistent HBV infection, which is hard to be completely eliminated. At present, the research on cccDNA is getting increasing attention. Only by comprehensively understanding it can we find a better way to cure HBV infection. This article reviewed the structure, regulation, detection and elimination of HBV cccDNA.