Journal of Infectious Diseases & Preventive Medicine
Open Access

Management of Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Diagnosis, Treatment and Future Directions

Yimin Tong^{* *}Correspondence: Yimin Tong, Department of Virology and Immunology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China, Email:

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About the Study

Over hundreds of millions of victims and high rates of morbidity and mortality, viral hepatitis is a significant global public health issue. The five distinct physiologically hepatotropic viruses responsible for the majority of viral hepatitis cases worldwide are Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis D Virus (HDV), and Hepatitis E Virus (HEV). HBV, HCV, HDV, and HEV can infrequently develop into chronic infections, despite being certain that HAV does not. Chronic infections have a substantial association with HBV and HCV in particular. The vast majority of viral hepatitis-related deaths are brought on by HBV and HCV infections. According to the data, 58 million people suffered hepatitis C, 296 million people suffered hepatitis B, and 1.1 million people died from viral hepatitis illnesses in 2019. When illness occurs, the liver, which acts as the body's main metabolic organ, will inevitably alter the connected metabolic network, which will have an effect on the body's levels of various endogenous small molecule metabolites. These endogenous small molecules can be employed as sensitive indicators of liver damage and can help with research into and understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of liver illnesses. They can be found in tissues or fluids.

The endogenous small-molecule metabolites that appear in tissues and biofluids are characterised using methods from analytical chemistry in the emerging subject of metabolomics. Metabolomics allows for the simultaneous analysis of numerous biological processes, including mitochondrial activity, lipid formation and metabolism, glucose and glutamine metabolism, and nucleotide biosynthesis. Metabolites closely resemble phenotype since they are the downstream byproducts of gene and protein expression. The pathogenic mechanisms of infectious diseases such Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and Herpesviruses (HPV) have recently been successfully explored through the application of metabolomics research. Utilising metabolomics resources, numerous researchers have proposed aetiologies and potential biomarkers for viral hepatitis and associated diseases, highlighting the potential of the approach in increasingly complex diseases.

In order to provide insights into the development of these disorders, analyses the use of metabolomics in diverse types of viral hepatitis and associated diseases.

Applications of hepatitis virus

Medical research and drug development: HDV serves as a model for studying viral replication and the interactions between two distinct viruses (HDV and HBV). Researchers use this model to develop antiviral drugs that can target both HBV and HDV infections.

Disease understanding: Studying HDV infection provides insights into the pathogenesis of liver diseases, immune responses, and mechanisms underlying severe forms of hepatitis. This knowledge contributes to a better understanding of liver function and the development of liver disease.

Diagnostic tools: HDV infection can be diagnosed using serological tests that detect HDV-specific antibodies or antigens. These tests help identify individuals coinfected with HDV and HBV, which is essential for appropriate patient management.

Prognostic indicator: HDV coinfection with HBV is associated with more severe liver disease, including increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Detection of HDV infection can serve as a prognostic indicator, influencing treatment decisions and disease monitoring.

Clinical management: HDV infection can complicate the clinical management of HBV-infected individuals. It may require specialized treatment approaches and close monitoring to address the increased risk of liver damage.

Epidemiological studies: HDV infection patterns can provide insights into the movement of infected populations, migration trends, and transmission dynamics. This information is useful for tracking disease spread and implementing preventive measures.

Conclusion

Addressing HDV infection aligns with global efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat. Combining strategies to prevent and treat HDV coinfection contributes to achieving this goal. Multi-omics applications have revealed the genesis and evolution of the hepatitis virus and offered new strategies to the detection, prognosis, and therapy of viral hepatitis and related illnesses. Several multi-omics analysis have been conducted on HBV, HCV, and related disorders. Several markers have been identified, and further correlations have been observed. But there is still a need to talk about the reliable these screened biomarkers are for patient diagnosis and prognosis.