The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant public health problem of international importance. HCV is capable of establishing chronic infections resulting in progressive liver damage and other problems. Current drug therapies are ineffective, highlighting the need for better antiviral drugs. Recent research in HCV genetics and molecular biology have led to significant advances in our understanding of the life cycle of this important pathogen and may ultimately lead to better antiviral strategies. The editors of this book have recruited experts from around the world to produce a timely and well-compiled review of current HCV research, with an emphasis on antiviral drug development. The chapters provide in-depth reviews of the most critical areas of research. Topics include: the HCV life cycle * HCV assays * HCV resources * HCV databases * HCV infection systems * models of hepatitis C infections * overview of the drug pipeline * clinical trial design * clinical virology and drug development * NS3 protease inhibitors * NS3-NS4A complex inhibitors * NS3 helicase inhibitors * NS4B targets and inhibitors * NS5A inhibitors * nucleoside inhibitors * NS5B polymerase inhibitors * glycoprotein-dependent entry * host cell targets and inhibitors * innate immunity for HCV antiviral therapy.

Animal Models for the Development of Cancer Immunotherapy Provides readers with a clear understanding of the value and challenges of using common and emerging preclinical models in cancer immunotherapy research and development. Animal models are essential tools for studying a range of issues in preclinical and clinical research on therapies targeting cancerous tumors. As clinical trials of advances in cancer immunotherapy are predicted to outpace preclinical research in the near future, there remains an urgent need to develop better animal models for preclinical evaluation of novel modulators. Animal Models for the Development of Cancer Immunotherapy provides a detailed overview of different preclinical model systems for development of novel cancer immunotherapies while highlighting how key aspects of individual models translate into clinical findings. Covering the introduction, development, and therapeutic applications of animal models for cancer immunotherapy, this comprehensive volume helps pharmacologists identify suitable animal models, design pharmacological or translational studies, and advance their mechanistic understanding of therapeutic agents, and increase the possibility of success for novel immunotherapies in clinical settings. Chapters written by prominent leaders in the field address specific models that evaluate immuno-oncology drugs are supported by in-depth case studies and extensive references throughout. Emphasizes the importance of modeling tumor metastasis in preclinical models for efficient translation of findings into the clinic Explores recently discovered mechanisms of resistance and their preclinical modeling Highlights the unique characteristics and features of autologous and allogeneic approaches for humanization of mouse models Reviews development of bone marrow-liver-thymus (BLT) immune humanized mice and emerging alternative models such as genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) Discusses alternative animal models for cancer research such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) pigs Animal Models for the Development of Cancer Immunotherapy is an essential resource for scientists and researchers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, medicinal chemists and biochemists, cell and molecular biologists, pharmacologists, immunologists, and clinicians.