Scientists Just Made a Major Stride Toward a Hepatitis C Vaccine, Labs couldn’t figure out the structure of a key part of the virus — until now.

>

"The hepatitis c virus, or HCV, causes a chronic liver infection that can lead to permanent liver scarring and, in dire cases, cancer. It affects around 71 million people worldwide and causes approximately 400,000 deaths each year.
>
> While treatments are available for HCV-related infections, they are expensive, hard to access, and do not protect against reinfection. A vaccine that can help prevent HCV infection is a major unmet medical and public health need."

This article was originally published on "The Conversation" by Lisa Eshun-Wilson and Alba Torrents de la Peña at the Scripps Research Institute. Root Source: "Scientists uncovered the structure of the key protein for a future hepatitis C vaccine – here’s how they did it"