Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is one type of hepatitis – a liver disease- caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen or other body fluid. An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that is spread when contact is made with blood or blood products from an infected individual.

Hepatitis B Mechanisms

Hepatitis B Diagnosis

Hepatitis B Prevention

Hepatitis B Treatment

Hepatitis B Prognosis

Hepatitis B Symptoms

Hepatitis B Immunization

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D

Closed Circular DNA and Hepatitis B Infection

Hepatitis B Structure: Capsid Flexibility and Function

Is Hepatitis Preventable?

Latest Hepatitis B News and Research

Breakthrough malaria vaccines RTS,S and R21 poised to save thousands of lives

Research paper reviews the efficacy of the first licensed malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, highlighting their potential to significantly reduce childhood mortality and discussing future vaccine development strategies.

21 Jul 2024

Ultrasound techniques for the surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for effective management and improved survival rates.

16 Jul 2024

40% of US cancer cases linked to lifestyle choices

Nearly 40% of cancer cases and 44% of cancer deaths in 2019 were due to modifiable risk factors, with cigarette smoking as the leading cause. This study highlights the potential to significantly reduce cancer burden through lifestyle changes.

14 Jul 2024

Study: 40% of cancer cases in the U.S. attributable to modifiable risk factors

A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) finds four in 10 cancer cases and about one-half of all cancer deaths in adults 30 years old and older in the United States (or 713,340 cancer cases and 262,120 cancer deaths in 2019) could be attributed to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections.

11 Jul 2024

Liver's defense mechanism hinders immunity in chronic hepatitis B, study reveals

In chronic hepatitis B, the liver contains immune cells that could destroy hepatitis B virus infected cells but are inactive. A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has discovered that cells blood vessels in the liver start a "sleep timer" that switches off immune cells. Targeting this mechanism could be a starting point for immunotherapies.

11 Jul 2024

Advancements in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma offer hope to patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer predominantly arising from chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B and C infections, alcohol abuse, and metabolic disorders.

2 Jul 2024

Asia Pacific faces hepatitis crisis: Urgent action needed to meet WHO targets

Countries in Asia Pacific are unlikely to meet their commitment to eliminate hepatitis by 2030 unless they declare a public health emergency, as they did with COVID-19, a disease specialist suggested.

1 Jul 2024

Human milk banks improve infant health but can't fully replace mother's milk

Scientists investigate human milk banks and their impact on infant health, highlighting differences between donated and maternal milk in gut microbiota and development.

25 Jun 2024

Type 2 diabetes linked to higher cancer risk, especially with diabetic retinopathy, study finds

A recent study in BMC Medicine found that type 2 diabetes significantly increases the risk of various cancers, with the risk being even higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR).

2 Jun 2024

FDA urged to relax decades-old tissue donation restrictions for gay and bisexual men

The federal government in 2020 and 2023 changed who it said could safely donate organs and blood, reducing the restrictions on men who have had sex with another man.

24 May 2024

WHO report highlights rising STI rates and insufficient progress in HIV and hepatitis control

Global HIV, viral hepatitis epidemics and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to pose significant public health challenges, causing 2.5 million deaths each year, according to a new WHO report - Implementing the global health sector strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2022–2030.

22 May 2024

UT Health San Antonio leads effort for developing oral vaccine against chlamydia

The study of a novel oral vaccine that could protect against chlamydia infection has been awarded approximately $11 million in National Institutes of Health funding over five years through a cooperative agreements research project grant, known as a U01 grant.

9 May 2024

50 years of lifesaving vaccinations: WHO's EPI saves 154 million lives

The World Health Organization’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has prevented 154 million deaths since 1974, significantly reducing global infant mortality and contributing 10.2 billion years of healthy life due to vaccinations.

7 May 2024

Study reveals global underassessment and undertreatment of chronic hepatitis B

New evidence reveals global underassessment and undertreatment of chronic hepatitis B (HBV), especially among women and Asian minorities in the West, a new study in the Journal of Hepatology, published by Elsevier, details.

2 May 2024

154 million lives saved: Landmark study highlights power of vaccination

A major landmark study to be published by The Lancet reveals that global immunization efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives – or the equivalent of 6 lives every minute of every year – over the past 50 years.

25 Apr 2024

Paclitaxel treatment found to directly promote HBV replication and transcription

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is commonly observed in individuals with chronic HBV infection undergoing antineoplastic drug therapy.

24 Apr 2024

Study identifies molecular pathway in liver cancer development

As a malignant disease of the liver cells, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths.

23 Apr 2024

Canada unlikely to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030, study finds

Canada will not reach the original World Health Organization's (WHO) target of eliminating the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030 and lags in comparison to other developed countries, a new study led by researchers at the University of Waterloo has found.

15 Apr 2024

Novel immune cell therapy may be a promising strategy for combating HBV infection

Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes progressive liver problems, and eradication of the virus remains a formidable challenge.

10 Apr 2024

Second-generation melanoma vaccine prolongs survival of patients with skin cancer

A second-generation melanoma vaccine being developed at UVA Cancer Center improves long-term survival for melanoma patients compared with the first-generation vaccine, new research shows.

29 Mar 2024