A recent study published in nature investigates that it is possible to silence the viral gene transcription of hepatitis B virus using epigenetic method of DNA methylation. That means we can silence the transcription of the viral gene without changing the genetic sequence.
ABOUT VIRAL HEPATITIS
It is a viral infection that causes inflammation in the liver. There are 5 types of hepatitis named as A, B, C, D, E. Of these five types most common ones are A, B, & C.
Hepatitis B virus(HBV): It is the most common liver infection in the world. It causes chronic viral hepatitis. It can occur due unprotected sex, sharing of syringes, and fetal transfer from mother to newborn.
Mode Of Action of HBV
How the suggested approach Works:
The epigenetic silencer targets step 4 of the image: Which is viral genetic expression in the heaptocytes. It aims at turning off the transcription of cccDNA (covalently closed circular DNA). Because this cccDNA of HBV serves as a template for pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) and mRNA transcripts, contributing to continuous HBV replication and complicating efforts to eliminate the infection.
The approaches which are being currently used in targeting HBV
- Direct-acting antivirals
- Immune modulators
- RNA silencers
But, their affect is not sustained due to re-occurence HBV surface antigens. Hence, they fail to provide a permanent solution.
Some more recent methods which includes Gene editing and Epigenetic Silencing are showing potential for a durable effect. They have shown promising results in preclinical models.
The method we are discussing CRMA-1001 is an Epigenetic Silencer and therapeutic candidate comprising a guide RNA (gRNA) and an mRNA co-encapsulated in a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) for delivery to hepatocytes.
As is the cases with all other research it is going to take time and initially going to be an expensive treatment. but, here what excites me is that we are permanently turning off the virus’s ability to transcribe into hepatocytes by inducing changes which doesn’t even change the genetic code.
Please share your views on the discovery
And you can read the full article from: Development of an investigational epigenetic silencer therapy to transcriptionally inactivate viral DNA in chronic hepatitis B | Nature Biomedical Engineering
MBH/AB