wIFN-α treatment of chronic WHV carriers induces suppression of serum antigenemia and viremia.

<p>Change in serum (a) WHsAg and (b) WHV DNA relative to week -3 (pre-treatment baseline). Circles indicate the mean of each group (open: placebo, closed: wIFN-α), and the error bars represent the standard error of the mean. The WHsAg level for two wIFN-treated animals was ≤ lower limit of detection (LLOD; 20 ng/mL) at various times during the study (<a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1005103#ppat.1005103.s002" target="_blank">S2 Fig</a>); the LLOD was used to estimate the WHsAg decline at these timepoints. Note that seven animals (three in the placebo group, four in the wIFN-α group) died during the study, and one animal in the wIFN-α group (M1004) was excluded from the analysis since it was likely naturally clearing WHV as the study initiated (see <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1005103#ppat.1005103.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>).