Viral sequence analysis of the hepatitis B virus core protein reveals CD8 T cell epitopes under reproducible selection pressure

Background: Chronic infections with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are worldwide an enormous public health problem. Effective suppression of viral replication can be achieved with inhibitors of the viral polymerase, however, in most cases lifelong treatment is required to avoid recurrence of viremia. Activation of HBV-specific CD8 T cells by therapeutic vaccination may promote sustained control of viral replication by clearance of cccDNA from infected hepatocytes. Importantly, little is known about the exact targets of the CD8 T cell response and the extent of selection pressure on the virus. Here, it was hypothesi…