Search for a cure for chronic hepatitis B infection: How close are we?

Figure 1 Replicative cycle of hepatitis B virus and the respective targets of the current and experimental therapeutic agents. Modified from Chan et al[18], with permission granted by Elsevier (Copyright owner). ER: Endoplasmic reticulum; HAP12: Heteroaryldihydropyrimidines 12; HBs protein L, M, S: HBs protein Large, Medium, Small; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; HBsAg: Hepatitis B virus antigen; RC-DNA: Relaxed circular DNA; RNAi: RNA interference; shRNA: Short/small hairpin RNA; cccDNA: Covalently closed circular DNA; KAT: Kynurenine aminotransferase; LTβR: Lymphotoxin beta receptor; TALEN: Transcription activator-like effector nuclease; ZFN: Zinc finger nuclease.