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Hepatitis C and Cellular Biology
Hepatitis C is a virus that affects over 2% of the global population (Belon & Frick, 2009). It is a virus that leads to chronic liver disease, and has many complications, including cirrhosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (Belon & Frick, 2009), and it is the leading cause of liver transplantation among countries in the developed world (Whidby et al., 2009). Hepatitis C establishes and maintains a life-long infection in individuals despite the fact that the virus is detected and targeted by immune mechanisms of the host (Sharma, 2010). The virus survives and persists due to rapid mutations that allow the virus to escape surveillance by immune mechanisms (Sharma, 2010). The hepatitis C virus itself is a very small hepatotropic RNA virus that is enveloped and spherical (Sharma, 2010). The only available treatment option for Hepatitis C is administration of a long-acting pegylated-interferon-alpha in combination with nucleoside analog ribavirin (Sharma, 2010). This treatment has been demonstrated as only moderately successful at best (Sharma, 2010). Currently there are no selective antiviral therapies or vaccines for prevention available (Sharma, 2010). The discovery of new therapies for the treatment of Hepatitis C is complicated by the complex lifecycle of the virus (Sharma, 2010).
The efficacy of treatment depends mostly on the initial viral load and the infecting strain of the virus (Whidby et al., 2009). A major obstacle for the...
In 2005, however, an in vitro cell culture system was developed for hepatitis C This development allowed researchers to effectively investigate the complete lifecycle of the virus (Sharma, 2010). This opened a doorway into the potential development of effective antiviral therapies and preventative vaccines.
At present, there are no approved antiviral therapies specifically targeted at hepatitis C The advances in understanding of the lifecycle of the virus have enabled the development of various inhibitors and anti-viral agents, which are currently in clinical trials (Sharma, 2010). The inhibitors under development and clinical investigation target several hepatitis C receptors, including NS3/4A, HCV-IRES, NS5A, and NS5B (Sharma, 2010). Also, the inhibition of alpha-glucosidase enzyme by inhibitors like celgosivir, n-butyl deoxynojirimycin and N-(n-nonyl) deoxynojirimycin offers therapeutic option since they affect morphogenesis of the virus (Sharma, 2010).
A study by Whidby et al. (2009) demonstrated how infection by the hepatitis C virus may be blocked by a form of envelope protein 2 ectodomain. These researchers recognized that infection by the virus occurs by endosomal acidification, which indicates the involvement of pH in the fusion of the viral envelope with cellular membranes (Whidby et al., 2009).…
References
Belon, C.A. & Frick, D.N. (2009). Helicase inhibitors as spciefically targeted antiviral therapy for hepatitis C Future Virology, 4(3), 277-93.
Sharma, S.D. (2010). Hepatitis C virus: Molecular biology and current therapeutic options. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 131, 17-34.
Whidby, J., Mateu, G., Scarborough, H., Demeler, B., Grakoui, A., Marcotrigiano, J. (2009). Blocking hepatitis C virus infection with recombinant form of envelope protein 2 ectodomain. Journal of Virology, 83(21), 11078-89.
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S ome aromas even affect us physiologically" (p. 38). Researchers exploring human olfaction have determined that: faint trace of lemon significantly increases people's perception of their own health. Lavender incense contributes to a pleasant mood -- but it lowers volunteers' mathematical abilities. A whiff of lavender and eucalyptus increases people's respiratory rate and alertness. The scent of phenethyl alcohol (a constituent of rose oil) reduces blood pressure. These findings have contributed to the explosive
infection prevention and control theory, critically discuss the challenges of managing Hepatitis B in the community One of the key public health issues that impacts innumerable individuals worldwide is viral hepatitis. This virus leads to substantial human mortality and morbidity from severe infection as well as chronic sequelae (including cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis (with regard to hepatitis B, C & D). One among the ten commonest cancers that emerges
Diamond Marian Diamond addressed the nature vs. nurture issue so long debated by researchers and scientists by actually observing the effects of living in different environments on young rats. The beginnings of her research with Donald Head occurred in the 1960's, a time when the brain was not viewed as plastic. When presenting the results of their early research demonstrating a small but significant thicker cerebral cortex in rats raised in
, about 700,000 deaths per annum); Bone (Leukemia) (cancer of the blood or bone marrow and characterized by an abnormal proliferation of white blood cells); Lymphoma (Lymphatic) (cancer that begins in the lymphocytes of the immune system then presents as a solid tumor, many types, many treatments); Brain (Neuro/Nervous) (abnormal growth of cells within the brain, can be cancerous or non-cancerous, 50,000 U.S. cases per annum, 13,000 deaths per annum);
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