This disclosure describes a method to induce HBV infection in cells or animal models with an HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA). The method is amenable to multiple genotypes and has excellent signal-to-noise ratios. The method can be used to identify novel anti-HBV agents, measure anti-HBV drug efficiency, and predict drug resistance.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying a compound that prevents, ameliorates and/or inhibits a hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, wherein a compound that (i) reduces the expression and/or activity of PAP associated domain containing 5 (PAPD5) and/or PAP associated domain containing 7 (PAPD7); and/or (ii) binds to PAPD5 and/or PAPD7 and inhibits 5 propagation of HBV; is identified as a compound that prevents, ameliorates and/or inhibits a HBV infection. The invention also provides for an inhibitor of PAPD5 and/or PAPD7 for use in treating and/or preventing a HBV infection; as well as a combined preparation comprising an inhibitor of PAPD5 and an inhibitor of PAPD7 for simultaneous or sequential use in the treatment or prevention of a HBV infection. Also comprised in the present invention is a 10 pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a HBV infection, and a method for monitoring the therapeutic success during the treatment of a HBV infection.

The application concerns means for determining the stage of hepatic tissue damage, in particular the hepatic fibrosis score of subjects infected with one or more hepatitis viruses. In particular, the means of the invention involve measuring the levels of expression of selected genes, said selected genes being: SPP1, and at least one gene from among A2M and VIM, and at least one gene from among IL8, CXCL10 and ENG, and optionally, at least one gene from among the list of the following sixteen genes: IL6ST, p14ARF, MMP9, ANGPT2, CXCL11, MMP2, MMP7, S100A4, TIMP1, CHI3L1, COL1A1, CXCL1, CXCL6, IHH, IRF9 and MMP1.

Provided is the use of a primer and probe combination and a kit thereof in HBV detection. The primer and probe combination is selected from at least one of an S gene region primer and probe combination, a C gene region primer and probe combination, and an X gene region primer and probe combination. Primers and probes are respectively designed in conserved sequences of the S, C and X genomes of the hepatitis B virus, and a fluorescent quantitative PCR technique is used to simultaneously detect HBV DNA in the same tube.

Provided herein are binding proteins recognizing HPV16 E7 antigen and uses thereof.

Methods for the rapid detection of the presence or absence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in a biological or non-biological sample are described. The methods can include performing an amplifying step, a hybridizing step, and a detecting step. Furthermore, primers, competitive blocking oligonucleotides, and probes targeting HBV (in particular HBV RNA, in particular, HBV RNA transcribed from cccDNA, such as pgRNA) and kits are provided that are designed for the detection of HBV (in particular HBV RNA, in particular, HBV RNA transcribed from cccDNA, such as pgRNA).

Nucleic acid oligomers specific for human parvovirus genomic DNA. An assay for amplifying and detecting human parvovirus genotypes 1, 2 and 3 nucleic acid in biological specimens. Compositions for amplifying and detecting the presence of human parvovirus genotypes 1, 2 and 3 genomic DNA in human biological specimens.

A probe combination for detecting cancer includes one or more sets of partial hepatitis B virus (HBV) targeting probes. When sequences of each of the sets of partial HBV targeting probes are aligned, an overall sequence of the aligned set of probes matches a reference sequence of a genome of a HBV genotype or a direct repeat (DR) region on the genome. In the aligned set of probes, each of the probes overlap with one or two adjacent probes by a portion of a length of the probe. The probe combination may further includes one or more sets of hotspot gene targeting probes targeting cancer hotspot genes such as CTNNB1, TERT, and TP53 genes, one or more sets of exogenous gene targeting probes targeting portions of a lambda phage genome, and endogenous gene targeting probes targeting endogenous genes such as GAPDH and GdX genes.

Probe sets capable of detecting pathogen nucleic acids in a sample are described. The probe set can be provided on a solid support, such as a microarray. Methods of detecting pathogen nucleic acids in a sample using the probe set are also provided. In some examples, the probes and methods are capable of detecting one or more RNA viruses, one or more DNA viruses, one or more bacterial nucleic acids, and/or one or more protozoan nucleic acids in a sample.

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting viral nucleic acids in a sample that include contacting the sample with one or more sets of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers specific for a viral nucleic acid of interest (such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis E virus, human immunodeficiency virus, West Nile virus, or Dengue virus nucleic acids) under conditions sufficient to produce an amplification product and detecting the amplification product(s). In some examples, the amplification product is detected by gel electrophoresis, while in other examples, the amplification product is detected by detecting signal from a label included in one or more of the LAMP primers. Primers and kits for use for detection of viral nucleic acids by LAMP are also disclosed herein.