Hepatitis C Virus Disease Immunobiology and Clinical Applications

This comprehensive volume, written by experts in the field, emphasizes the most recent advances on the Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) moving from basic research to clinical application. In spite of the numerous studies on HCV infection, its pathogenesis and medical treatment have not been fully explained. The first chapters of this volume analyize the full spectrum of immune responses to HCV taking into account either innate or adoptive immunity involvement. The volume also includes a series of contributions which explain the state of art of IFN-alpha treatment in HCV patients and the effectiveness of therapy also in relation to HCV genotypes. The use and applications of pegylated IFNs will also be discussed as well as the complicated HCV disease and its treatment. Hepatitis C Virus Disease: Immunobiology and Clinical Applications is an ideal volume for researchers, scientists, professionals, clinicians, physicians and graduate students in the fields of infectious disease, immunology, virology, microbiology, pharmacology and medicine.

Innate immunity in Type C Hepatitis.- Mechanisms of Interferon Action and Resistance: Lessons learned from cell cultures studies.- Immunological Parameters Determining the Outcome of Hepatitis C Virus Infection.- The Effects of Interferon-Alpha Therapy on Immune Response and Outcome.- Microbial Components Associated with HCV Disease Interfere with Response to Interferon-alpha/Ribavarin Treatment.- IFN-induced Effector Proteins and HCV Replication.- Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Various Genotypes.- IFNs in HCV infection: Biological and Clinical Considerations.- Clinical application of IFN-based therapy for HCV.- HCV therapy in difficult-to-treat patients.- Effects of IFN-alpha/Ribavirin Treatment on HCV Disease and Related Progression.