Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access

Abstract

Viral Factors Associated with Response to Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Yoshio Aizawa and Hiroshi Abe

A first-generation protease inhibitor (PI) against HCV non-structural 3/4A serine protease was approved worldwide at the end of 2011. We are now facing a revolutionary change in therapeutic strategies for chronic HCV infection, from interferon (IFN)-based therapies to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). The efficacy of antiviral therapy varies with HCV genotype. The most intractable and most common HCV worldwide is HCV genotype 1 (G1). Viral and host factors participating in the virological outcome of IFN-based therapy have been extensively examined. However, in the era of DAAs, the significance of these factors will gradually decrease. Instead, viral factors related to resistance against DAAs are becoming the main focus. In this review, the viral factors participating in the response to IFN-based therapies are summarized, and the issue of viral resistance to DAAs is discussed.