HSC BIOLOGY: THE SEARCH FOR BETTER HEALTH
RESEARCH ASSESSMENT - HEPATITIS B OVERVIEW OF HEPATITIS DISEASES
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver (In Latin, hepatitis means “of the liver”) caused either by a toxic substance (viral infection from direct damage e.g. alcohol) or bacterial and viral infection. Hepatitis is a family of viral infections that damage the liver; most common types are Hepatitis A, B and C.
About 500 million people globally are infected by one of six hepatitis viruses. Five different viruses - named A, B, C, D, and E are known to cause hepatitis. All forms of viral hepatitis have common symptoms, with each varying in severity, duration and treatment.
HEPATITIS B (HBV, serum hepatitis)
Hepatitis B is an infectious …show more content…
It is the only hepatitis virus with a DNA as its nucleic acid. The HBV interferes with the functions of the liver by replicating in hepatocytes, by which the host’s immune response causes hepatocellular damage in attempt to rid of the virus. (Further explained in Host Response)
The surface antigen HBsAg is in the envelope and its presence in blood indicates an active infection. Another antigen HBcAg, is a core antigen - the essential structure of a virus - which can be very difficult to detect as it is shielded from the outer by the envelope and the capsid. (See IMG 1) It is the first hepatitis B antigen to appear in the blood, persisting in the blood during a chronic infection. The core antigen shows up in blood during incubation phase, or may not appear until completion of the prodromal phase a month later. Antibodies to HBcAg are found in chronically infected people or those who have recovered from an acute infection. Other antigens, HBe and HBx are important in survival and spread of infection and altering the host to be permissive to viral
RESEARCH ASSESSMENT - HEPATITIS B OVERVIEW OF HEPATITIS DISEASES
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver (In Latin, hepatitis means “of the liver”) caused either by a toxic substance (viral infection from direct damage e.g. alcohol) or bacterial and viral infection. Hepatitis is a family of viral infections that damage the liver; most common types are Hepatitis A, B and C.
About 500 million people globally are infected by one of six hepatitis viruses. Five different viruses - named A, B, C, D, and E are known to cause hepatitis. All forms of viral hepatitis have common symptoms, with each varying in severity, duration and treatment.
HEPATITIS B (HBV, serum hepatitis)
Hepatitis B is an infectious …show more content…
It is the only hepatitis virus with a DNA as its nucleic acid. The HBV interferes with the functions of the liver by replicating in hepatocytes, by which the host’s immune response causes hepatocellular damage in attempt to rid of the virus. (Further explained in Host Response)
The surface antigen HBsAg is in the envelope and its presence in blood indicates an active infection. Another antigen HBcAg, is a core antigen - the essential structure of a virus - which can be very difficult to detect as it is shielded from the outer by the envelope and the capsid. (See IMG 1) It is the first hepatitis B antigen to appear in the blood, persisting in the blood during a chronic infection. The core antigen shows up in blood during incubation phase, or may not appear until completion of the prodromal phase a month later. Antibodies to HBcAg are found in chronically infected people or those who have recovered from an acute infection. Other antigens, HBe and HBx are important in survival and spread of infection and altering the host to be permissive to viral