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Prospects for a vaccine against the hepatitis C virus

Nature volume 436, pages 961–966 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The recent discovery of natural immunity to the hepatitis C virus and vaccine efficacy in the chimpanzee challenge model has allowed optimism about the development of at least a partly effective vaccine against this heterogeneous pathogen that is responsible for much of the chronic liver disease around the world. The immune systems of some infected individuals can spontaneously clear the virus, whereas other people need treatment with antivirals that work partly by stimulating humoral and cellular immune responses. Therefore, therapeutic vaccine strategies are also being pursued to improve treatment outcome.

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Figure 1: Putative control of acute HCV viraemia by viral neutralizing antibodies.

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  1. Chiron Corporation, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, 94608, California, USA

    Michael Houghton

  2. National Institute of Molecular Genetics, INGM, Via Francesco, Sforza 28, Milan, 20122, Italy

    Sergio Abrignani

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Both authors are employed by Chiron Corp., which is developing a HCV vaccine. At least one of the authors (M.H.) has a substantial equity investment in Chiron Corp.

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Houghton, M., Abrignani, S. Prospects for a vaccine against the hepatitis C virus. Nature 436, 961–966 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04081

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