Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver, caused by the Hepatitis B virus[1], and characterized by diffuse or patchy areas of necrosis[2]. Hepatitis studies that classified the types of Hepatitis began after World War II (1945)[3] just over 70 years ago. Two decades later in 1967, Krugman studies found Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B[3]. Another ten years later, the Prince studies found the specific virus surface antigen that causes Hepatitis B[3]. Taxonomically classified in the Hepadnaviridae family, the Hepatitis B virus mostly affects the liver, but may also affect the kidney, pancreas and mononuclear cells[3]. Structurally, the virus is a double-shelled particle, with an outer lipoprotein envelope that has 3 surface antigens[3]. Replication of the virus occurs via replication in host cells, and the pathophysiology of the immune response is not completely understood.[3] Hepatitis B…
Globally individuals develop and obtain disease. Among these diseases is the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and breast cancer; two commonly spread/carried diseases, and potentially life threatening diseases. Chronic hepatitis B infection alone “is a global public health issue with >350 million hepatitis B virus carriers worldwide” (Ling, W H Y et, al,1931). Breast cancer has also been on the rise infecting not only women but men as well. So, it is not uncommon for individuals to have both…
The core of the hepatitis B virus is generally in the shape of an icosahedron. Within the virus, there are two strands of DNA, one smaller than the other, which is circular. HBV is around 42 nm in width, and the core is surrounded in a 4nm thick coat. They are enveloped, which means they are more susceptible to being destroyed, because the envelope is very thin. Viruses in general are very small, much smaller than bacteria, and HBV is no different. (Image:…
Hepatitis B (HBV) is a viral disease of the liver, discovered by Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg in 1967. As a medical anthropologist, a doctor who studies human health and disease, Blumberg was very interested in the genetics of disease susceptibility. He started a study to see if inherited traits made different groups of people differently susceptible to the same disease. He and his team collected blood samples from around the world, and planned to look for gene differences, and see if the differences…
immigrants. While researching about Baltimore City it has become apparent the biggest barrier to resource retrieval by vulnerable populations is their understanding of available help. These barriers vary by group and include reduced visual and audible abilities, lack of education leading to illiteracy, language barriers, and lack of access to information sources. This problem manifests constantly in the city as it prevents people from receiving care that has been set aside by the government…
They work closely with Dr. Baruc Blumber, who won the Nobel Prize for discovering the HBV, and their main goal is to improve the lives of those infected by the HBV by advocating for them, “by funding research, promote disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public” (Hepatitis B Foundation, 2015,…
The Microbe Hepatitis B virus belongs to a group called, Hepadnaviridae which consists of diseases that contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and affect the liver. Hepatitis B is a virus therefore; hepatitis B requires a living host to replicate viral particles. Hepatitis B consists of a nucleic acid core, a protein coat, and a lipid envelope. The hepatitis B virus contains a partially double-stranded DNA within the nucleic acid core because one of the full-length strands is linked to the viral…
About 2 billion people have evidence of past or present infection of HBV, and 248 million of these are chronic carriers of HBV in worldwide. Most of the people currently living with HBV infection are persons that were born before hepatitis B vaccination. The Prevalence of HBV in Iran is around 2% in general populations except Sistan and Baluchestan (3.38%-5%) and Golestan (5%-7%) Provinces that is higher than other parts of Iran. It seems that with the measures of the Ministry of Health,…
The recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is produced from genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast. The vaccine is noninfectious, and it contains hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (Keating & Noble, 2003). The first recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, Recombivax HB, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1983, followed by Engerix-B in 1989 (Hepatitis B Vaccine Safety, n.d.). safety. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is one way that the Centers for Disease…
The Hepatitis B infection (HBV) is a standout amongst the most well-known blood borne pathogens. The recurrence of HBV disease among all social insurance laborers in the United States is assessed to be 3.5–4.6 contaminations for every 1000 specialists, which is 2–4 circumstances than the level for the all inclusive community. There are preventable measures and control plans that can be implemented in order to keep the lab scientist safe. Since hepatitis B and C are vaccine preventable diseases,…