Cell models for studying HBV infection and replication in vitro

Abstract:

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a worldwide public health problem that poses a serious threat to human health. Currently, only a very small fraction of patients can achieve functional cure based on the existing treatment strategies of anti-HBV drugs. The development of more effective drugs against HBV certainly requires a more comprehensive understanding on the roles and mechanisms of each viral component and its related host factors in viral life cycle, and therefore providing scientific clues for further identification of novel therapeutic targets. In vitro cell models supporting HBV replication and infection are important tools for basic researches of HBV life cycle, and play essential roles in the identification of novel anti-HBV targets and efficacy evaluation of drug candidate. In this review, we summarize the recent research advances on the cell culture models supporting HBV infection and replication, and systematically illustrate and discuss their application characteristics and limitations and highlight perspectives for further developments.