From its discovery only 30 years ago to the recent development of an effective treatment, the short life of the Hepatitis C virus certainly has been action-packed. This week, we take you through the biology of this deadly virus by exploring its cancer-causing qualities and pondering the plural of hepatitis. Then we take a stroll through the often bizarre and disturbing history of blood technology, discussing how a lack of sterilization and screening allowed for the proliferation of the Hepatitis C virus around the world. Finally we ask, “what’s going on in the world of Hepatitis C today?” Spoilers: it’s not all bad! As long as you can afford the treatment of course…
Link to our firsthand account: https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/kims-story-hep-c-cure#3
History | Biology |
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Bukh, Jens. “The history of hepatitis C virus (HCV): Basic research reveals unique features in phylogeny, evolution and the viral life cycle with new perspectives for epidemic control.” Journal of hepatology 65.1 (2016): S2-S21. | Hoofnagle, Jay H. “Hepatitis C: the clinical spectrum of disease.” Hepatology 26.S3 (1997): 15S-20S |
Choo, Qui-Lim, et al. “Isolation of a cDNA clone derived from a blood-borne non-A, non-B viral hepatitis genome.” Science 244.4902 (1989): 359-362. | Kohli, Anita, et al. “Treatment of hepatitis C: a systematic review.” Jama 312.6 (2014): 631-640 |
Pol, Stanislas, and Sylvie Lagaye. “The remarkable history of the hepatitis C virus.” Genes & Immunity (2019): 1. | Global Hepatitis Report 2017. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO |
Seeff, Leonard B. “The history of the “natural history” of hepatitis C (1968–2009).” Liver International 29 (2009): 89-99. | Mohd Hanafiah K. et al ” Global epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection: new estimates of age-specific antibody to HCV seroprevalence.” Hepatology 57.4 (2013): 1333-42 |
Simmonds, Peter. “Genetic diversity and evolution of hepatitis C virus–15 years on.” Journal of General Virology 85.11 (2004): 3173-3188. | Gower, Erin, et al. “Global epidemiology and genotype distribution of the hepatitis C virus infection.” Journal of hepatology 61.1 (2014): S45-S57 |
Vogt, P. K. Hepatitis C virus: from molecular virology to antiviral therapy. Ed. Ralf Bartenschlager. Berlin: Springer, 2013. |
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