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Special Issue "Hepatitis Virus Vaccine Immune Therapy"

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A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Hepatitis Virus Vaccines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 4879

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar

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Guest Editor

Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon City, Ehime 791-0295, Japan
Interests: vaccine; hepatitis virus vaccine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatitis viruses mainly include four major viruses (Hepatitis virus A, B, C, and E), although there are some other viruses that are capable of inducing hepatitis in humans. These viruses are hepatotropic in nature and can induce various types of liver disease. There have been significant insights into the epidemiology, virology, pathogenesis, prevention and management of patients infected with hepatitis viruses. However, a considerable number of new infections of all four hepatitis viruses still occur each year. In addition, several million patients are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Thus, more insights should be developed into all aspects of these viruses to meet the WHO target of ‘Elimination of Hepatitis by 2030’. A prophylactic vaccine should be developed for HCV. HBV is a non-cytopathic virus and host immunity seems to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HBV-induced liver diseases. In this context, more insights are required regarding virus–host interactions (immunity). These understandings may provide fundamental evidence for the development of new modes of immune therapies. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for the development of greater understanding of hepatitis viruses, their interplay with the immune system, and new and innovative therapies from all disciplines.

Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akba
Guest Editor

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Keywords

hepatitis virus
hepatitis B virus
hepatitis C virus
vaccines
immune therapy

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Effect of CD70 Co-Expression on CD8 T Cell Response in Protein-Prime MVA-Boost Vaccination in Mice

and

Vaccines 2023, 11(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020245 - 21 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Here, we investigate the potential of CD70 co-expression during viral vector boost vaccination to improve an antigen-specific T cell response. To determine the chance of activating antigen-specific T cells by CD70, we used the HBV core antigen as a model antigen in a heterologous protein-prime, Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) boost vaccination scheme. Both the HBV core and a CD70 expression cassette were co-expressed upon delivery by an MVA vector under the same promoter linked by a P2A site. To compare immunogenicity with and without CD70 co-expression, HBV-naïve, C57BL/6 (wt) mice and HBV-transgenic mice were prime-vaccinated using recombinant HBV core antigen followed by the MVA vector boost. Co-expression of CD70 increased the number of vaccine-induced HBV core-specific CD8 T cells by >2-fold and improved their effector functions in HBV-naïve mice. In vaccinated HBV1.3tg mice, the number and functionality of HBV core-specific CD8 T cells was slightly increased upon CD70 co-expression in low-viremic, but not in high-viremic animals. CD70 co-expression did not impact liver damage as indicated by ALT levels in the serum, but increased the number of vaccine-induced, proliferative T cell clusters in the liver. Overall, this study indicates that orchestrated co-expression of CD70 and a vaccine antigen may be an interesting and safe means of enhancing antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses using vector-based vaccines, although in our study it was not sufficient to break immune tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis Virus Vaccine Immune Therapy)

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Open AccessArticle

The Safety and Efficacy of a Therapeutic Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B: A Follow-Up Study of Phase III Clinical Trial

Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar

Guillen Nieto Gerardo

and

Yoichi Hiasa

Vaccines 2022, 10(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10010045 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1321

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic vaccine containing both HBsAg and HBcAg (NASVAC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) three years after the end of treatment (EOT) as a follow-up of a phase III clinical trial. NASVAC was administered ten times by the nasal route and five times by subcutaneous injection. A total of 59 patients with CHB were enrolled. Adverse events were not seen in any of the patients. Out of the 59 CHB patients, 54 patients exhibited a reduction in HBV DNA, compared with their basal levels. Although all the patients had alanine transaminase (ALT) above the upper limit of normal (>42 IU/L) before the commencement of therapy, the levels of ALT were within the ULN level in 42 patients. No patient developed cirrhosis of the liver. The present study, showing the safety and efficacy of NASVAC 3 years after the EOT, is the first to report follow-up data of an immune therapeutic agent against CHB. NASVAC represents a unique drug against CHB that is safe, of finite duration, can be administered by the nasal route, is capable of reducing HBV DNA and normalizing ALT, and contains hepatic fibrosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis Virus Vaccine Immune Therapy)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Development of Therapeutic Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B: Concept, Cellular and Molecular Events, Design, Limitation, and Future Projection

Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar

and

Vaccines 2022, 10(10), 1644; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10101644 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1663

Abstract

Four decades have passed since the first usage of the therapeutic vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, there is no approved regimen of vaccine therapy for the treatment of CHB. This is mainly attributable to faulty conception, an improper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of CHB, and the impaired design of vaccine therapy for CHB. With the advent of new techniques and a better understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the genesis of CHB, the limitations and failures of previous regimens of therapeutic vaccines have been primarily understood. Additionally, the importance of immune therapy for treating millions of CHB patients and achieving the target of “Elimination of Hepatitis by 2030” has been focused on in the international arena. This has been amplified by the apparent limitation of commercially available antiviral drugs that are infinite in duration, endowed with safety concerns, and unable to cure liver damage due to their minimal immune modulation capacities. The proposed review article comprehensively discusses each of these points and proposes evidence-based approaches for viable types of vaccine therapy for the treatment of CHB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hepatitis Virus Vaccine Immune Therapy)

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