Alexander P Underwood, Money Gupta, Bing-Ru Wu, Auda A Eltahla, Irene Boo, Jing Jing Wang, David Agapiou, Arunasingam Abayasingam, Arnold Reynaldi, Elizabeth Keoshkerian, Yanran Zhao, Nicholas Brasher, Melanie R Walker, Jens Bukh, Lisa Maher, Tom Gordon, Miles P Davenport, Fabio Luciani, Heidi E Drummer, Andrew R Lloyd, Rowena A Bull
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In individuals highly exposed to hepatitis C virus (HCV), reinfection is common, suggesting that natural development of sterilising immunity is difficult. In those that are reinfected, some will develop a persistent infection, while a small proportion repeatedly clear the virus, suggesting natural protection is possible. The aim of this study was to characterise immune responses associated with rapid natural clearance of HCV reinfection. METHODS: Broad neutralising antibodies (BnAbs) and Envelope 2 (E2)-specific memory B cell (MBCs) responses were examined longitudinally in 15 subjects with varied reinfection outcomes...
April 9, 2024: Journal of Hepatology