The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes inflammation of the liver.
Synonyms
Hepatitis C virus
Detailed description
The RNA virus infects human liver cells. Due to its high mutation rate, a lot of genetic variations exist. The WHO estimates that one percent of the world population is chronically infected with HCV. Transmission is mainly via contaminated blood and can happen in hospitals or through drug use. HCV infection can lead to liver cell carcinoma.
It all began 20 years ago with Pekin duck breeding in Kirchheim near Heidelberg. At the time, duck was the model of choice for hepatitis B research, which Stephan Urban also used to discover a peptide
The hepatitis C research success story is also his story: Ralf Bartenschlager, a virologist at the Heidelberg Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University, has been researching the hepatitis C virus for
Worldwide, approximately 260 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B which is currently incurable. However, there is now a shimmer of hope on the horizon as scientists at the DZIF have
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted “PRIME eligibility” to Myrcludex B, and will provide priority support for its further drug development. The hepatitis B and D virus entry inhibitor was
Florian Klein’s main goal is to improve HIV therapy with the help of antibodies and to develop a HIV vaccine. His research on a new generation of broadly neutralising antibodies has found worldwide
For the first time, a German Liver Foundation trial shows that the chronic hepatitis C drugs developed in the last years can also cure acute hepatitis C—even faster than the chronic disease. The trial
