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Saravanan S, Shankar EM, Vignesh R, Ganesh PS, Sankar S, Velu V, Smith DM, Balakrishnan P, Viswanathan D, Govindasamy R, Venkateswaran AR. Occult hepatitis B virus infection and current perspectives on global WHO 2030 eradication. J Viral Hepat 2024; 31:423-431. [PMID: 38578122 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The current World Health Organization (WHO) Hepatitis Elimination Strategy suffers from lack of a target for diagnosing or expunging occult HBV infection. A sizable segment of the global population has an undetected HBV infection, particularly the high-risk populations and those residing in countries like India with intermediate endemicity. There is growing proof that people with hidden HBV infection can infect others, and that these infections are linked to serious chronic hepatic complications, especially hepatocellular carcinoma. Given the current diagnostic infrastructure in low-resource settings, the WHO 2030 objective of obliterating hepatitis B appears to be undeniably challenging to accomplish. Given the molecular basis of occult HBV infection strongly linked to intrahepatic persistence, patients may inexplicably harbour HBV genomes for a prolonged duration without displaying any pronounced clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease, and present histological signs of moderate degree necro-inflammation, diffuse fibrosis, and hence the international strategy to eradicate viral hepatitis warrants inclusion of occult HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanmugam Saravanan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Esaki M Shankar
- Infection and Inflammation, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ramachandran Vignesh
- Pre-Clinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Malaysia
| | - Pitchaipillai Sankar Ganesh
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sathish Sankar
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vijayakumar Velu
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Davey M Smith
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pachamuthu Balakrishnan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dhivya Viswanathan
- Centre for Nanobioscience, Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rajakumar Govindasamy
- Centre for Nanobioscience, Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arcot R Venkateswaran
- Department of Medical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals (SMCH), Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Tu T, Wettengel J, Xia Y, Testoni B, Littlejohn M, Le Bert N, Ebert G, Verrier ER, Tavis JE, Cohen C. Major open questions in the hepatitis B and D field - Proceedings of the inaugural International emerging hepatitis B and hepatitis D researchers workshop. Virology 2024; 595:110089. [PMID: 38640789 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
The early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) of scientific communities represent the forefront of research and the future direction in which a field takes. The opinions of this key demographic are not commonly aggregated to audit fields and precisely demonstrate where challenges lie for the future. To address this, we initiated the inaugural International Emerging Researchers Workshop for the global Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D scientific community (75 individuals). The cohort was split into small discussion groups and the significant problems, challenges, and future directions were assessed. Here, we summarise the outcome of these discussions and outline the future directions suggested by the EMCR community. We show an effective approach to gauging and accumulating the ideas of EMCRs and provide a succinct summary of the significant gaps remaining in the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Tu
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, The University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jochen Wettengel
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA; Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich /Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner Site, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Yuchen Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China; Pingyuan Laboratory, Henan, China
| | - Barbara Testoni
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR-5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France; University of Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard, Lyon, France; Hepatology Institute of Lyon, France
| | - Margaret Littlejohn
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Department of Infectious Disease, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Gregor Ebert
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich /Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eloi R Verrier
- University of Strasbourg, Inserm, Institute for Translational Medicine and Liver Disease, UMR_S1110, Strasbourg, France
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Saint Louis University Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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Chen PJ. Challenges for hepatitis B control in Asia-Pacific areas: Consolidating vaccination and rolling-out antiviral therapies. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 39:1033-1039. [PMID: 38413195 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was, and still is, a prevalent liver disease in the world, especially high in the Asia-Pacific areas. With the advent of preventive vaccines and effective viral suppression drugs and active implementations, CHB has gradually become under control. The world-wide prevalence reduces from 4.2% in 1980 to 3.2% in 2020 study. CHB patients receiving long-term antiviral therapies significantly improve the clinical outcomes, saving from end-stage liver diseases. Despite of these impressive progresses, to meet the WHO sustained development goals (SDG) for CHB control, a 90% reduction of incidence and a 65% reduction of mortality in year 2030, there is still a long way to go. In this review, four ongoing approaches have been proposed: (i) A continuous monitoring of long-term vaccine efficacy in vaccinated populations; (ii) consolidating the hepatitis B virus vaccination program against vaccine hesitancy and limited resources; (iii) rolling-out current oral antivirals to more CHB patients not only for diseases treatment but also for infection preventions; and (iv) development of curative therapies, both friendly-to-dispense and affordable. A coherent and persevere efforts by the society may succeed and achieve the SDG for CHB in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Jer Chen
- Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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Perrillo RP, Janssen HLA. Letter to the Editor: Provider preparedness for functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology 2024; 79:E159. [PMID: 38442001 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Perrillo
- Hepatology Division, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Harry L A Janssen
- Erasmus Medical Center, University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Guan G, Abulaiti A, Qu C, Chen CC, Gu Z, Yang J, Zhang T, Chen X, Zhou Z, Lu F, Chen X. Multi-omics panoramic analysis of HBV integration, transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic modifications in PLC/PRF/5 cell line. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29614. [PMID: 38647071 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The clearance or transcriptional silencing of integrated HBV DNA is crucial for achieving a functional cure in patients with chronic hepatitis B and reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development. The PLC/PRF/5 cell line is commonly used as an in vitro model for studying HBV integration. In this study, we employed a range of multi-omics techniques to gain a panoramic understanding of the characteristics of HBV integration in PLC/PRF/5 cells and to reveal the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of integrated HBV DNA. Transcriptome long-read sequencing (ONT) was conducted to analyze and characterize the transcriptional activity of different HBV DNA integration sites in PLC/PRF/5 cells. Additionally, we collected data related to epigenetic regulation, including whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), histone chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq), and assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq), to explore the potential mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation of integrated HBV DNA. Long-read RNA sequencing analysis revealed significant transcriptional differences at various integration sites in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line, with higher HBV DNA transcription levels at integration sites on chr11, chr13, and the chr13/chr5 fusion chromosome t (13:5). Combining long-read DNA and RNA sequencing results, we found that transcription of integrated HBV DNA generally starts downstream of the SP1, SP2, or XP promoters. ATAC-seq data confirmed that chromatin accessibility has limited influence on the transcription of integrated HBV DNA in the PLC/PRF/5 cell line. Analysis of WGBS data showed that the methylation intensity of integrated HBV DNA was highly negatively correlated with its transcription level (r = -0.8929, p = 0.0123). After AzaD treatment, the transcription level of integrated HBV DNA significantly increased, especially for the integration chr17, which had the highest level of methylation. Through ChIP-seq data, we observed the association between histone modification of H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 with the transcription of integrated HBV DNA. Our findings suggest that the SP1, SP2 and XP in integrated HBV DNA, methylation level of surrounding host chromosome, and histone modifications affect the transcription of integrated HBV DNA in PLC/PRF/5 cells. This provides important clues for future studies on the expression and regulatory mechanisms of integrated HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiwen Guan
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Abudurexiti Abulaiti
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenxiao Qu
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chia-Chen Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- National Heart and Lung Institute Faculty of Medicine (NHLI), Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Zhiqiang Gu
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojie Chen
- Liver Transplantation Center, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Zhou
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology & Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Gu Y, Li S, Yao Z, Lai X, Yang M, Xu Y, Peng S. Characteristics and clinical treatment outcomes of chronic hepatitis B children with coexistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HBsAg. BMC Med 2024; 22:77. [PMID: 38378606 PMCID: PMC10877877 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03294-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coexistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) represents an uncommon serological pattern observed in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and its underlying mechanism and clinical significance have not been well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between this serological profile and clinical treatment outcomes in children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 372 treatment-naïve CHB children from the Hunan Children's Hospital. The participants were categorized into HBsAb-positive group and HBsAb-negative group. The associations between HBsAb positive status to clinical outcomes were assessed using Cox proportional hazard regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve was conducted to evaluate the prediction ability in HBsAg loss. RESULTS The coexistence of HBsAg and HBsAb accounted for 23.39% (87/372) of the participants. The crude incidence rates of HBsAg loss, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance, and HBV-DNA undetectability were higher in the HBsAb-positive group compared with the HBsAb-negative group (37.46 vs. 17.37, 49.51 vs. 28.66, 92.11 vs. 66.54 per 100 person-years, respectively, all P < 0.05). The Cox regression analysis revealed a significant association between this serological profile and an increased likelihood of HBsAg loss (HR = 1.78, P = 0.001), and HBeAg clearance (HR = 1.78, P = 0.001). In addition, a combination of HBsAb ≥ 0.84 log10 IU/L and age ≤ 5 years can help identify patients likely to achieve HBsAg loss after antiviral therapy, with an AUC of 0.71. CONCLUSIONS Children who are positive for both HBsAg and HBsAb demonstrate a higher probability of favorable outcomes after antiviral treatment. Thus, children with HBsAb-positive CHB should be actively treated to achieve functional cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingping Gu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Shuangjie Li
- Liver Disease Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Zhenzhen Yao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Xin Lai
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Songxu Peng
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, No. 172 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China.
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Anvari S, Tsoi K. Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation with Immunosuppression: A Hidden Threat? J Clin Med 2024; 13:393. [PMID: 38256527 PMCID: PMC10816226 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in the setting of immunosuppressive therapy is an increasingly recognized and preventable cause of elevated liver enzymes and clinical hepatitis in treated patients. However, not all immunosuppressive therapies confer the same risk. The purpose of this article was to review the literature on risks of HBV reactivation associated with immunosuppressive agents and propose a management algorithm. We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, and MEDLINE for studies related to hepatitis B reactivation and various immunosuppressive agents. The risk of HBV reactivation was found to differ by agent and depending on whether a patient had chronic HBV (HBsAg+) or past HBV (HBsAg-, anti-HBc+). The highest risk of reactivation (>10%) was associated with anti-CD20 agents and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Multiple societies recommend HBV-specific anti-viral prophylaxis for patients with positive HBsAg prior to the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, while the guidance for HBsAg- patients is more variable. Clinicians should check HBV status prior to beginning an immune-suppressive therapy. Patients with positive HBsAg should be initiated on antiviral prophylaxis in the majority of cases, whereas HBsAg- individuals should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Further research is required to determine the optimum duration of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sama Anvari
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada;
- Division of Gastroenterology, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Keith Tsoi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada;
- Division of Gastroenterology, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
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Henriquez-Camacho C, Hijas-Gomez AI, Risco Risco C, Ruiz Lapuente MA, Escudero-Sanchez R, Cuerda VM. Lamivudine and Entecavir for Acute Hepatitis B: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Viruses 2023; 15:2241. [PMID: 38005918 PMCID: PMC10675181 DOI: 10.3390/v15112241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute hepatitis B infection is associated with severe liver disease and chronic sequelae in some cases. The purpose of this review was to determine the efficacy of nucleoside analogues (NA) (lamivudine versus entecavir) compared to placebo or no intervention for treating acute primary HBV infection. METHODS A meta-analysis for drug intervention was performed, following a fixed-effect model. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomized studies that evaluated the outcomes of NA in acute hepatitis B infection were included. The following outcomes were considered: virological cure (PCR negative), elimination of acute infection (seroconversion of HBsAg), mortality, and serious adverse events. RESULTS Five trials with 627 adult participants with severe acute hepatitis B defined by biochemical and serologic parameters were included. Virological cure did not favor any intervention: OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.7 (p = 0.90), I2 = 58%. Seroconversion of HBsAg to negative favored placebo/standard-of-care compared to lamivudine: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.9 (p = 0.02), I2 = 31%. The only trial that compared entecavir and lamivudine favored entecavir over lamivudine (OR: 3.64, 95% CI 1.31-10.13; 90 participants). Adverse events were mild. CONCLUSION There is insufficient evidence that NA obtain superior efficacy compared with placebo/standard-of-care in patients with acute viral hepatitis, based on low quality evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Henriquez-Camacho
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, 28935 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Ana Isabel Hijas-Gomez
- Agencia de Evaluación de Tecnologías Sanitarias (AETS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Rosa Escudero-Sanchez
- Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, CIBERINFEC, ISIII-CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, IRYCIS, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Moreno Cuerda
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), Hospital Universitario de Móstoles, 28935 Madrid, Spain;
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