Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is one type of hepatitis – a liver disease- caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen or other body fluid. An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.

What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that is spread when contact is made with blood or blood products from an infected individual.

Hepatitis B Mechanisms

Hepatitis B Diagnosis

Hepatitis B Prevention

Hepatitis B Treatment

Hepatitis B Prognosis

Hepatitis B Symptoms

Hepatitis B Immunization

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D

Closed Circular DNA and Hepatitis B Infection

Hepatitis B Structure: Capsid Flexibility and Function

Is Hepatitis Preventable?

Latest Hepatitis B News and Research

Northwestern scientists develop rapid HIV test for point-of-care diagnosis

A team of Northwestern University scientists spanning disciplines have developed new technology that could lead to the creation of a rapid point-of-care test for HIV infection competitive with traditional lab-based HIV testing in a fraction of the time and without the need for a stressful wait while results are processed or confirmed in a clinical laboratory.

2 Apr 2025

Study explores how sex chromosomes and hormones influence immune responses

Women have a higher proportion of key immune cells between puberty and menopause, which may be linked to the sex hormone estrogen and explain why they are less susceptible to certain infectious diseases than men, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL.

27 Mar 2025

New hepatitis B vaccine outperforms standard boosters in health care workers

Health care workers are at higher risk of hepatitis B infection due to occupational exposure to blood and body fluids.

24 Mar 2025

Besifovir dipivoxil maleate offers comparable efficacy and improved safety for hepatitis B patients

Hepatitis B is a liver infection cause by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), and long-term hepatitis B infections that last longer than six months are considered "chronic".

24 Mar 2025

How your diet and probiotics can improve vaccine effectiveness

Researchers uncover how probiotics and diet shape the gut microbiome to boost vaccine efficacy, offering new avenues for precision immunization.

23 Mar 2025

Researchers move closer to a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus infection remains one of the leading causes of liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

17 Mar 2025

A safer and more affordable polio vaccine could soon be a reality

A more affordable, lower-risk polio vaccine is on the horizon, research led by the University of Leeds has found.

11 Mar 2025

Discovery paves way for new hepatitis B treatment

In their effort to answer a decades-old biological question about how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is able to establish infection of liver cells, research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University identified a vulnerability that opens the door to new treatments.

22 Feb 2025

Breakthrough discovery unveils potential treatment for hepatitis B

In their effort to answer a decades-old biological question about how the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is able to establish infection of liver cells, research led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), Weill Cornell Medicine and The Rockefeller University identified a vulnerability that opens the door to new treatments.

20 Feb 2025

FDA ensures blood safety through five layers of safeguards

Every day, hospitals throughout the U.S. transfuse blood or blood components, such as platelets, to save the lives of people who are in car crashes, and victims of fires and other emergencies.

20 Feb 2025

Novel therapeutic approaches targeting the Wnt pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers globally, with increasing incidence and mortality rates.

19 Feb 2025

The growing list of human viruses: Are we prepared for the next outbreak?

Researchers review the ever-growing list of human viruses, examining their diversity, transmission pathways, and the urgent need for prevention and global surveillance.

12 Feb 2025

Immune system discovery could revolutionize treatment for chronic disease and cancer

A discovery about the mechanisms that enable the immune system to sustain long-term protection could revolutionize treatment for chronic disease and cancer.

31 Jan 2025

Updated guidelines for preventing and managing hepatitis B virus reactivation

Researchers update clinical practice guidelines for how to prevent and monitor hepatitis B virus reactivation.

27 Jan 2025

AGA releases updated guidelines on hepatitis B reactivation in patients on immunosuppressive drugs

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has unveiled an updated clinical practice guideline in Gastroenterology addressing the prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) in patients on immunosuppressive drugs.

23 Jan 2025

Study evaluates effectiveness and safety of TMF for chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a significant global health challenge, and effective antiviral therapies are essential for long-term management.

17 Jan 2025

Alcohol consumption increases risks of cirrhosis and HCC in patients with HBV infection

The quantitative effects of alcohol consumption on cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are unknown.

16 Jan 2025

New research sheds light on changing liver cancer trends

Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with distinct geographic patterns in its incidence.

13 Jan 2025

Widening childhood vaccination inequality in England raises concerns

Inequalities in childhood vaccination are widening in England, with uptake rates of five key vaccines consistently lower in young children living in areas of higher deprivation from 2019 to 2023, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

11 Dec 2024

New hepatitis B vaccine offers superior protection for people with HIV

A newer vaccine against hepatitis B virus was clearly superior to an older vaccine type in inducing a protective antibody response among people living with HIV who didn't respond to prior vaccination, according to the results of an international study led by a Weill Cornell Medicine investigator.

11 Dec 2024