The invention principally relates to a method of detecting a disease agent in blood, comprising: (i) creating a sample infra-red spectrum representative of the blood, with one or more spectral components, each having a wavenumber and absorbance value; (ii) providing a reference database of spectral models, each model having one or more database spectral components of a wavenumber and an absorbance value, wherein the database spectral components identify disease agents; (iii) determining whether one or more database spectral components corresponds to one or more sample spectral components, and (iv) compiling a list of corresponding database components identified.

The present invention relates to epitope peptides (or mutants thereof) for treating hepatitis B virus infection, recombinant proteins comprising such epitope peptides (or mutants thereof) and carrier proteins, and uses of such epitope peptides (or mutants thereof) and recombinant proteins. The present invention also relates to antibodies against such epitope peptides, cell lines producing said antibodies, and uses thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to vaccines or pharmaceutical compositions for treating or alleviating one or more symptoms associated with hepatitis B virus infection, which comprise the recombinant proteins or antibodies according to the invention, respectively.

The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against HBV infection. The peptide and/or proteins of the invention may be used as a therapeutic drug to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate HBV infection in infected cells or as a vaccine for the prevention of disease.

Provided are: an antibody binding specifically to a surface antigen, pre-S1, of a hepatitis B virus (HBV); a polynucleotide coating the antibody; an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide; a transformation agent comprising the expression vector; and use of the antibody in treating or preventing HBV infection and in detecting an HBV.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and discloses peptides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides that can be used to stimulate a CTL response against HBV infection. The peptide and/or proteins of the invention may be used as a therapeutic drug to stimulate the immune system to recognize and eliminate HBV infection in infected cells or as a vaccine for the prevention of disease.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as well as methods for identifying a compound or a composition that is suitable for treating HBV infection. In addition, the present invention provides a suitable non-mammalian animal model that can be used to screen for a compound or a composition that can inhibit HBV replication or treat HBV infection in a mammal. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for treating hepatitis B infection by inhibiting interaction between HBV x protein and a Bcl-2 family protein or by reducing the expression level of a Bcl-2 family protein.

The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

Provided herein are methods of treating a subject having hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. More specifically, disclosed herein are methods of stimulating the innate cytokine response in macrophages, dendritic cells and/or liver non-parenchymal cells with small molecular agonists of STING to suppress HBV replication in hepatocytes. The methods are especially suitable for use in the treatment of chronic HBV infections. Also disclosed herein are methods of identifying compounds useful in the treatment of HBV infection.

The present disclosure provides methods for maturing hepatocytes comprising culturing with cyclic adenosine monophosphate and a Janus kinase inhibitor. There is also provided a method for screening inhibitors of hepatitis B virus infection and/or replication.