Amidst growing optimism that viral hepatitis may be eliminated with new treatments and concerted public health efforts, US researchers have raised hopes further by identifying a new approach which may soon lead to a vaccine for hepatitis C.

Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have borrowed a technique from statistical physics using it to analyse the responses to manipulation of the proteins and antigens of the hepatitis C virus.

The technique allows them to make and record observations which can then help to identify components of the virus which can be targeted with a vaccine.

The researchers believe the vaccine development process will be sped up with the use of computer simulation.

Image: Hepatitis C virus by AJ Cann via Flickr on Creative Commons