2009年云南省2株肠道病毒71型分离株全基因组序列遗传特性分析

对2009年云南省肠道病毒71型分离株KMM09和KM186-09进行全基因组序列测序,并与我国及其它国家流行的EV71基因型进行比较和进化分析。KMM09和KM186-09基因组长为7 409bp,编码2 193个氨基酸,VP1系统进化分析显示2009年云南分离株属于C4基因型的C4a亚型。在结构区,与其它基因型相比较,C基因型之间的核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性高于其它基因型;而在非结构区,C4与B基因型和CA16原型株G10同源性高于其它C基因亚型。通过RDP3重组软件和blast比对分析,发现EV71C4基因型与B3基因型,与CA16原型株G10的基因组在非结构区存在重组。EV71全基因组序列的比较和分析,对了解引起我国手足口病暴发或流行C4基因亚型EV71毒株的遗传特性具有重要意义。     

2007―2008年肠道病毒71型北京地区分离株的VP4基因序列分析

为了解2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的肠道病毒71 型( EV71) 是否存在基因序列变异及其与病毒毒力的关系, 我们选择2007 年分离的3 株EV71( 其中1 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子标本, 其余2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿咽拭子标本) 和2008 年分离的5 株EV71( 其中3 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子或鼻拭子标本, 2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿的疱疹液标本) , 提取基因组RNA, 经反转录-聚合酶链反应( RT-PCR) 扩增得到VP4 基因片段, 并进行核苷酸序列测定, 使用生物信息软件与GenBank 中的EV71 VP4 基因进行序列及病毒型别分析。结果表明, 所测得的8 株EV71 VP4 基因全长均为207 bp, 编码69 个氨基酸, 理论相对分子质量( Mr) 为7 ×10³。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 基因的核苷酸同源性在94% ～100% , 与GenBank 中其他EV71 病毒株VP4 的核苷酸同源性为82% ～100% , 与阜阳、深圳和台湾等地区流行的EV71 VP4 的核苷酸同源性比其他地区高。除了与印度报道的VP4 编码的氨基酸在第7 和54 位不同外( 印度株: 7 位蛋氨酸, 54位苏氨酸; 其余株7 位苏氨酸,54 位丙氨酸) , 这8 株EV71 VP4 编码的氨基酸序列之间以及与其他EV71 VP4编码的氨基酸同源性均为100%。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 与文献报道的3 株重症感染病毒株VP4 ( BrCr、MS 和NCKU9822) 核苷酸有较大差别, 而8 株病毒株中从重症感染( BJ97、BJ110B、BJ110Y 和BJ4243) 与轻症感染( BJ25、BJ47、BJ65 和BJ67) 分离到的毒株之间VP4 基因序列未见明显改变, 只有几个核苷酸存在差别。VP4 核苷酸序列的进化树分析表明, 这8 株EV71 均属于C4 亚型, 显示2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的EV71的VP4 基因相当保守, 分离自伴有神经系统感染的重症手足口病和普通手足口病患儿的EV71 的VP4 基因之间在核苷酸水平未出现同样的变异。结果提示, 近2 年来北京地区所流行的EV71 属C4 亚型。     

2008～2010年河南省人肠道病毒71型基因特征和重组分析

对河南省2008～2010年河南省人肠道病毒71型进行基因特征及重组特点研究。对河南省2008～2010年分离的5株肠道病毒EV71型构建VP1序列系统进化树并分析其全基因组序列的重组特点。VP1序列系统进化分析显示2008～2010年河南株均属于C4基因型的C4a亚群,Bootscan分析和5’NCR、P1、P2、P3区的进化树证实C4基因型在2A～2B处存在EV71的B基因型和C基因型的型内重组及在3B～3C处存在EV71的B基因型和CA16/G-10间的型间重组。2008～2010年河南EV71分离株为C4基因型的C4a亚群,与2004年以来的中国大陆优势株流行趋势完全一致,EV71C4基因型存在基因型内和型间双重组现象。     

3株肠道病毒71型毒株的全基因组序列分析

目的：对获得的3株肠道病毒71（EV71）型毒株进行全基因组序列测定,并对其进化特点及分型进行初步分析。方法：提取病毒RNA,反转录得到eDNA,PCR分段扩增覆盖病毒全长序列的6个重叠片段（不包括多聚腺苷酸尾）;用软件将3株EV71的备片段序列进行拼接、编辑和校正,随后进行氨基酸翻译及序列比较;用MEGA4.1软件构建系统进化树。结果：获得了3株EV71的全长序列：GDV103株基因组全长7404 nt,包括741bp的5’端非编码区（UTR）、6582bp的病毒基因组编码区（ORF）及81bp的3’UTR;安徽株（Anhui2007）基因组全长7405nt,包括742bp的5＇UTR、6582bp的ORF及81bp的3＇UTR;VR1432株基因组全长7408nt,包括743bp的5’UTR、6582bp的ORF及83bp的3’UTR长。经同源性比对和进化树分析,证实GDV103和安徽株EV71属于C基因型的C4基因亚型。而VR1432株则属于C基因型的C2基因亚型。结论：获得了3株EV71的全长基因组序列,并进一步探讨了其型别,为下一步的干扰素保护宴,哈重定了基础．     

基因序列分析

为了解2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的肠道病毒71 型( EV71) 是否存在基因序列变异及其与病毒毒力的关系, 我们选择2007 年分离的3 株EV71( 其中1 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子标本, 其余2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿咽拭子标本) 和2008 年分离的5 株EV71( 其中3 株分离自重症手足口病患儿的咽拭子或鼻拭子标本, 2 株分离自普通手足口病患儿的疱疹液标本) , 提取基因组RNA, 经反转录-聚合酶链反应( RT-PCR) 扩增得到VP4 基因片段, 并进行核苷酸序列测定, 使用生物信息软件与GenBank 中的EV71 VP4 基因进行序列及病毒型别分析。结果表明, 所测得的8 株EV71 VP4 基因全长均为207 bp, 编码69 个氨基酸, 理论相对分子质量( Mr) 为7 ×10³。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 基因的核苷酸同源性在94% ～100% , 与GenBank 中其他EV71 病毒株VP4 的核苷酸同源性为82% ～100% , 与阜阳、深圳和台湾等地区流行的EV71 VP4 的核苷酸同源性比其他地区高。除了与印度报道的VP4 编码的氨基酸在第7 和54 位不同外( 印度株: 7 位蛋氨酸, 54位苏氨酸; 其余株7 位苏氨酸,54 位丙氨酸) , 这8 株EV71 VP4 编码的氨基酸序列之间以及与其他EV71 VP4编码的氨基酸同源性均为100%。8 株EV71 病毒VP4 与文献报道的3 株重症感染病毒株VP4 ( BrCr、MS 和NCKU9822) 核苷酸有较大差别, 而8 株病毒株中从重症感染( BJ97、BJ110B、BJ110Y 和BJ4243) 与轻症感染( BJ25、BJ47、BJ65 和BJ67) 分离到的毒株之间VP4 基因序列未见明显改变, 只有几个核苷酸存在差别。VP4 核苷酸序列的进化树分析表明, 这8 株EV71 均属于C4 亚型, 显示2007 ― 2008 年北京地区流行的EV71的VP4 基因相当保守, 分离自伴有神经系统感染的重症手足口病和普通手足口病患儿的EV71 的VP4 基因之间在核苷酸水平未出现同样的变异。结果提示, 近2 年来北京地区所流行的EV71 属C4 亚型。     

新乡地区2011年肠道病毒71型VP1基因特征分析及手足口病流行特点

为了解新乡地区2011年肠道病毒71型(EV71)VP1基因特征及手足口病流行特点,采用荧光RT-PCR对临床诊断的粪便标本进行总肠道病毒(EV)、柯萨奇病毒A16(CA16)和EV71检测;选取10例EV71阳性标本进行VPl序列扩增并测序,所得序列进行同源性分析和构建系统发生树;对2011年新乡市手足口病疫情监测数据进行分析。结果显示,重症标本的EV71阳性率(73%)显著高于CA16阳性率(19%)(P<0.01);10株新乡EV71分离株的核苷酸及氨基酸差异分别为2.8%和0.9%,属于C4亚型的C4a簇;9株VP1区第170位氨基酸为A,1株为V;与近缘的C4a型代表株相比,新乡优势株的氨基酸变异一般发生在VP1第292位氨基酸(T→A);2011年新乡市共上报手足口临床诊断病例1118例,92%的发病年龄在3岁以下,发病高峰分别出现在4和12月份,提示一定要加强手足口病预防控制,寒冷天气尤其不能忽视。     

2010年内蒙古自治区手足口病病原谱及人肠道病毒71型分子特征研究

研究2010年中国内蒙古自治区引起手足口病(Hand foot and mouth disease,HFMD)的病原谱及人肠道病毒71型(Human enterovirus,HEV71)的分子特征。采集内蒙古自治区12个盟市门诊就诊的HFMD患者粪便和咽拭子标本共921份,进行病毒分离,然后利用三通道实时荧光定量PCR法[同时检测HEV71,柯萨奇病毒A16型(CVA16)和人肠道病毒(HEV)]对阳性分离物进行鉴定,对鉴定为其它HEV的阳性分离物进行VP4和VP1编码区扩增及核苷酸序列测定和分析。921份标本共分离出153株病毒,阳性率为16.61%,其中61株为HEV71,占39.87%,82株为CVA16,占53.59%,7株为其它HEV(分别为6株CVB4和1株Ⅱ型脊髓灰质炎疫苗病毒株),占6.53%,3株为腺病毒。重症病例中分离到9株病毒,其中6株为HEV71,3株为CVA16。选取从临床诊断分别为普通型病例、重型病例的HFMD患者临床标本中分离到的32株HEV71代表株进行VP1编码区基因扩增及核苷酸序列测定和分析,与HEV71其它各基因型和基因亚型的代表株构建亲缘性进化树。32株内蒙古HEV71代表株与1998年以来中国大陆HEV71分离株的VP1区核苷酸和氨基酸水平上的同源性都较高,尤其与2008年的北京代表株同源性最高,与C4基因亚型代表株聚为一支,属于C4基因亚型C4a进化分支,但它们之间的核苷酸和氨基酸的同源性略有差异,分别为96.4%～100%和98.14%～100%,与2007年的内蒙古代表株存在一定的差异,核苷酸同源性为96.95%～97.87%。亲缘进化关系树显示,这些HEV71处于不同的簇中,属于多个病毒传播链。2010年内蒙古HFMD的病原谱以CVA16和HEV71为主,重症病例中以HEV71居多。内蒙古流行的HEV71属于C4基因亚型C4a进化分支,并且存在多个传播链,与2008年北京代表株亲缘关系比2007年内蒙古代表株亲缘关系近,说明内蒙古流行的HEV71不是独立进化的,而是与中国流行的HEV71在共同进化。     

肠道病毒71型北京分离株VP4基因序列及蛋白抗原性分析

为探讨肠道病毒71型(EV71)VP4基因序列与手足口病(HFMD)不同临床类型之间的关系,分析重组蛋白EV71 VP4的抗原性,并初步探讨其与柯萨奇病毒A16(CA16)重组蛋白VP4是否存在交叉反应性,对2007~2009年从北京患HFMD儿童标本分离到的10株EV71的VP4基因进行克隆测序,运用生物学软件对测序结果进行比较分析,并选择其中1株与1株同期分离的CA16的VP4分别进行原核表达;用表达产物对189份正常体检的成人及来首都儿科研究所就医的非HFMD患儿血清中的IgG进行Western Blot检测,并分析14份确诊为EV71感染和12份CA16感染患者急性期血清中的IgM抗体。分析表明这10株EV71 VP4基因核苷酸同源性为94.20%~100.00%,所推导的氨基酸序列则完全相同,从重症与轻症患儿分离的毒株之间VP4的核苷酸序列未见一致性的差异,基于EV71 VP4基因核苷酸序列的进化树分析表明2007~2009年北京地区所流行的毒株均属于C4亚型;本研究中EV71和CA16的VP4核苷酸序列的同源性为69.60%,所推导的氨基酸序列的同源性为78.60%,在运用Western Blot检测189份血清中的VP4特异性IgG时,EV71 VP4的血清阳性率为38.10%,说明其具有良好的抗原性,CA16 VP4的血清阳性率为58.20%,两者差别具有显著统计学意义(2χ=15.30,P<0.01),提示EV71 VP4与CA16 VP4没有交叉反应性;在用表达的VP4检测已确诊为相应病毒的特异性IgM时,两者皆为阴性,提示感染后机体对VP1和VP4产生不同的反应。     

2008～2011年贵州省肠道病毒71型分子流行特征分析

为研究贵州省肠道病毒71型(EV71)的基因型和分子流行特征,监测了全省报告的手足口病病例,选择2008年以来贵州全省部分EV71阳性标本进行病毒分离及VP1全基因测序(含重症病例、死亡病例和轻症病例),与国内外近年流行毒株及各亚型代表株进行基因比对,分析同源性及基因亚型。2008年、2009年及2011年贵州省流行的主要病原为EV71,获得109株参比序列毒株的同源性为95.3%～99.7%,贵州省毒株与邻省及山东省、上海市、南京市、吉林省和宁波市代表株的同源性最高,轻症与重死病例的核苷酸及氨基酸序列无明显的特征性差异,未出现不同基因亚型病毒的输入或改变,仍属C4a亚型。同地区、同年度内的核苷酸序列差异小于跨地区、跨年度差异。     

安徽省2017-2018年手足口病柯萨奇病毒A6型基因进化特征分析

人肠道病毒A组71型(Enterovirus A71,EV-A71)和柯萨奇病毒A组16型(Coxsackievirus A16,CV-A16)是引起手足口病(Hand,foot,and mouth disease,HFMD)的主要病原体.近年来非EV-A71和非CV-A16的其他肠道病毒(Enterovirus,EV)已成为HFMD流行或暴发疫情的优势病原体.安徽省HFMD监测数据显示,2017-2018年HFMD样本非EV-A71和非CV-A16其他EV核酸阳性率超过50％,其中大部分为柯萨奇病毒A组6型(Coxsackievirus A6,CV-A6).为了解安徽省2017-2018年HFMD其他肠道病毒构成和CV-A6基因进化特征,本研究收集2017-2018年HFMD咽拭子EV核酸阳性标本,采用人横纹肌肉瘤(RD)细胞进行病毒分离培养,对分离到的CV-A6毒株VP1全长序列基因扩增及核苷酸序列测定.从NCBI GenBank数据库下载CV-A6原型株和代表性毒株基因参考序列,运用生物软件MEGA 6.0构建VP1基因序列系统进化树,分析其基因遗传特征.结果 显示,安徽省2017-2018年HFMD实验室确诊病例其他EV占66.1％,CV-A16占23.5％,EV-A71占10.4％.52株CV-A6毒株均为D3a基因亚型,其VP1区核苷酸序列间相似度为93.7％～100％,编码的氨基酸序列相似度为98.3％～100％;与CV-A6 Gdula原型株核苷酸相似度为78％～82.3％,氨基酸相似度为94.6％～96.3％.VP1区15个氨基酸位点有变异,氨基酸位点Q98L和G160S的变异发生率为100％.其他EV已成为安徽省引起HFMD流行的重要病原体,D3基因型CV-A6为优势流行毒株.持续加强其他EV的病原学监测与分析,对安徽省HFMD防控策略制定与疫情处置具有重要意义.     

Population Dynamics and Genetic Diversity of C4 Strains of Human Enterovirus 71 in Mainland China, 1998–2010

Background

Since 1997, several countries within the Asian Pacific region have been affected by one or more massive outbreaks of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Virus typing experiments revealed that these outbreaks were caused by strains of human enterovirus 71 (EV71) belonging to several different, recently emerged subgenogroups. In mainland China, a different situation was observed. The first outbreak, localized in Shangdong Province, was reported in 2007, and was followed by a wide-spread outbreak in mainland China in 2008. Since then, numbers of reported HFMD cases have been persistently high.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To gain insight in the epidemiological behavior of EV71 in China, we studied genetic diversity and EV71 population dynamics to address whether the increase in number of reported EV71 infections reflects a real increase in viral spread or is just the result of increased awareness and surveillance. We used systematically collected VP1 gene sequences of 257 EV71 strains collected in Guangdong province from 2008 to 2010 as part of HFMD surveillance activities, and supplemented them with 305 GenBank EV71 reference stains collected in China from 1998 to 2010. All isolates from Guangdong Province belonged to subgenogroup C4. Viral population dynamics indicated that the increased reporting of HFMD in China since 2007 reflects a real increase in viral spread and continued replacement of viral lineages through time. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed substitution of amino acid in residues 22, 145 and 289 through time regularly with the VP1 gene of EV71 strains isolated in mainland China from 1998 to 2010.

Conclusions

EV71 strains isolated in mainland China mainly belonged to subgenogroup C4. There was exponential growth of the EV71 virus population in 2007 and 2008. There was amino acid substitution through time regularly with the VP1 gene which possibly increased viral spread and/or ability of the virus to circulate persistently among the Chinese population.     

2009年上海市手足口病流行病学和病原学特征

本研究对上海市手足口病(Hand-foot-and-mouth disease,HFMD)的流行病学和病原学特征进行了分析。从国家疾病监测信息报告管理系统获取上海市2009年HFMD的流行病学数据;采用荧光定量RT-PCR方法对来自上海15个区县的799例HFMD进行肠道病毒(Enterovirus,EV)核酸检测;对部分肠道病毒71型(Enterovirus71,EV71)的VP1区和部分其它EV的VP4区序列进行测定和分析。采用Office excel软件进行简单数据统计分析,用BioEdit和MEGA软件进行病毒基因特征分析,通过BLAST服务器的在线比对进行EV型别鉴定。分析显示:上海市18个区县均有病例报告,地区分布无显著特点;小于6岁的婴幼儿期为疾病高发年龄段;4～7月为发病高峰期;EV71和柯萨奇病毒A16(Coxsackie virus A16,CA16)为主要病原,不同地区、不同月份的病原构成各不相同,CA16为轻症病例的主要病原,EV71则为重症病例的主要病原;基于VP1区序列分析,上海EV71毒株与C4a亚型毒株具有最近的亲缘性和最高的同源性;2株其它肠道病毒经鉴定属于CA2和CA10型。结果表明:EV71和CA16为2009年上海HFMD流行的主要病原,EV71属于C4a亚型;除EV71和CA16外,还存在小部分其它EV(如:CA2和CA10)引起的HFMD。     

Outbreak of central nervous system disease associated with hand,foot, and mouth disease in Japan during the summer of 2000: detection and molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71

Few outbreaks of the serious enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections, which affect the central nervous system (CNS), had been reported in Japan before 2000. During June through August 2000, a patient died of pulmonary edema caused by brainstem encephalitis accompanied by EV71-induced hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), and many patients complicated by serious CNS disease, including paralysis, were hospitalized in a restricted area in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (K-area). During the same period, endemics of HFMD were reported in other areas in Hyogo Prefecture, where EV71 was isolated from HFMD patients, but few patients developed aseptic meningitis. The isolations of EV71 from K-area patients were difficult with the use of Vero cells, so the strains were isolated by use of GL37 cells; Vero cells, however, could isolate EV71 strains from other areas in Hyogo Prefecture. We sequenced VP4 coding regions of these EV71 isolates and found that the isolates from K-area had the same sequence, which, except for one isolate, was different from the sequences of EV71 strains isolated from other areas of Hyogo Prefecture. Although these results were not enough to state that EV71 from K-area was a virulent strain, it seemed reasonable to conclude that serious CNS diseases in K-area were caused by EV71 because it was the only infectious agent detected in the inpatients of K-area.     

Hand foot and mouth disease due to enterovirus 71 in Malaysia

Hand foot and mouth disease is a febrile sickness complex characterized by cutaneous eruption (exanthem) on the palms and soles with simultaneous occurrence of muco-cutanous vesiculo-ulcerative lesions (enanthem) affecting the mouth.The illness is caused by a number of enteroviruses with coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71 as the main causative agents.Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) belongs to the species Human enterovirus A under the genus Enterovirus within the family Picornaviridae.EV71 has been associated with an array of clinical diseases including hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD),aseptic meningitis,encephalitis and poliomyelitis-like acute flaccid paralysis.A large outbreak of HFMD due to highly neurovirulent EV71 emerged in Malaysia in 1997,and caused 41deaths amongst young children.In late 2000,a recurrence of an outbreak of HFMD occurred in Malaysia with S fatalities in peninsular Malaysia.Outbreak of HFMD due to EV71 recurred in 2003 with an unknown number of cases and mortalities.A similar outbreak of HFMD with 2 recorded deaths in young children occurred in peninsular Malaysia in late 2005 and this was followed by a larger outbreak in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo) with 6 reported fatalities in the early part of 2006.The current on-going outbreak of HFMD started in peninsular Malaysia in epidemiological week 12 of 2010.As with other HFMD outbreaks in Malaysia,both EV71 and CA16 were the main aetiological viruses isolated.In similarity with the HFMD outbreak in 2005,the isolation of CA16 preceded the appearance of EV71.Based on the VP 1 gene nucleotide sequences,4 sub-genogroups of EV71 (C1,C2,B3 and B4) co-circulated and caused the outbreak of hand,foot and mouth disease in peninsular Malaysia in 1997.Two sub-genogroups (C1 and B4) were noted to cause the outbreak in 2000 in both peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.EV71 of sub-genogroup B5 with smaller contribution from sub-genogroup C1 caused the outbreak in 2003.In the 2005 outbreak,besides the EV71 strains of sub-genogroup C1,EV71 strains belonging to sub-genogroup B5 were isolated but formed a cluster which was distinct from the EV71 strains from the sub-genogroup B5 isolated in 2003.The four EV71 strains isolated from clinical specimens of patients with hand,foot and mouth disease in the Sarawak outbreak in early 2006 also belonged to sub-genogroup B5.Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene suggests that the EV71 strains causing the outbreak in Sarawak could have originated from peninsular Malaysia.Epidemiological and molecular data since 1997 show the recurrence of HFMD due to EV71 in Malaysia every 2 to 4 years.In each of the past outbreaks,more than one sub-genogroup of the virus co-circulate.     

肠道病毒71型安徽、河南株的分离与VP1序列进化分析

旨在研究手足口病患者中肠道病毒71型分离株的病毒基因型特征。采集手足口病患者的粪便标本,进行病毒分离和逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)特异性扩增进行鉴定,同时选取其中9株EV71分离株,对其抗原决定簇部位VP1区进行核酸序列测定,并参考EV71 A、B、C各基因型的参考株和以往中国EV71的分离株进行同源分析和构建系统发生树。结果显示,所分析的9株病毒株均为C4亚型,3株安徽株H7、H8和H9的VP1序列相似度很高(≥98.8%,其中H7、H9的相似度为100.0%),4株河南株H3、H4、H5和H6相似度较高(≥98.4%,H3、H4和H5≥99.6%,其中H3、H4的相似度为100.0%),它们同河南株H1、H5的相似度也较高(≥97.2%),河南株H2虽然与其他河南株具有较高的序列相似度,但进化分析表明,其与安徽株同源性较高。结果表明,安徽株H7、H8和H9株变异速率明显加快,这可能导致了手足口病在安徽省的率先爆发与大流行,河南株H2最初可能由安徽传入河南。     

Genetic analysis of the VP1 region of human enterovirus 71 strains isolated in Fuyang,China, during 2008

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a common cause of Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and may also cause severe neurological diseases, such as encephalitis and poliomyelitis-like paralysis. To examine the genetic diversity of EV71, we determined and analyzed the complete VP1 sequences (891 nucleotides) from nine EV71 strains isolated in Fuyang, China. We found that nine EV71 strains isolated were over 98% homologous at the nucleotide level and 93%-100% homologous to members of the C4 subgenogroup. At the amino acid level, these Fuyang strains were 99% -100% homologous to one another, 97%-100% homologous to members of the C4 subgenogroup, and the histidine(H) at amino acid position 22 was conserved among the Fuyang strains. The results indicate that Fuyang isolates belong to genotype C4, and an H at position 22 appears to be a marker for the Fuyang strains.     

Emergence and transmission pathways of rapidly evolving evolutionary branch C4a strains of human enterovirus 71 in the Central Plain of China

Background

Large-scale outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) occurred repeatedly in the Central Plain of China (Shandong, Anhui, and Henan provinces) from 2007 until now. These epidemics have increased in size and severity each year and are a major public health concern in mainland China.

Principal Findings

Phylogenetic analysis was performed and a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo tree was constructed based on the complete VP1 sequences of HEV71 isolates. These analyses showed that the HFMD epidemic in the Central Plain of China was caused by at least 5 chains of HEV71 transmission and that the virus continued to circulate and evolve over the winter seasons between outbreaks. Between 1998 and 2010, there were 2 stages of HEV71 circulation in mainland China, with a shift from evolutionary branch C4b to C4a in 2003–2004. The evolution rate of C4a HEV71 was 4.99×10^-3 substitutions per site per year, faster than the mean of all HEV71 genotypes. The most recent common ancestor estimates for the Chinese clusters dated to October 1994 and November 1993 for the C4a and C4b evolutionary branches, respectively. Compared with all C4a HEV71 strains, a nucleotide substitution in all C4b HEV71 genome (A to C reversion at nt2503 in the VP1 coding region, which caused amino acid substitution of VP1–10: Gln to His) had reverted.

Conclusions

The data suggest that C4a HEV71 strains introduced into the Central Plain of China are responsible for the recent outbreaks. The relationships among HEV71 isolates determined from the combined sequence and epidemiological data reveal the underlying seasonal dynamics of HEV71 circulation. At least 5 HEV71 lineages circulated in the Central Plain of China from 2007 to 2009, and the Shandong and Anhui lineages were found to have passed through a genetic bottleneck during the low-transmission winter season.     

Genetic Diversity of Human Enterovirus 68 Strains Isolated in Kenya Using the Hypervariable 3′- End of VP1 Gene

Reports of increasing worldwide circulation of human enterovirus-68 (EV68) are well documented. Despite health concerns posed by resurgence of these viruses, little is known about EV68 strains circulating in Kenya. In this study, we characterized 13 EV68 strains isolated in Kenya between 2008 and 2011 based on the Hypervariable 3′- end of the VP1 gene. Viral RNA was extracted from the isolates and partial VP1 gene amplified by RT-PCR, followed by nucleotide sequencing. Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences revealed substitutions in Kenyan EV68 isolates absent in the prototype reference strain (Fermon). The majority of these changes were present in the BC and DE-loop regions, which are associated with viral antigenicity and virulence. The Kenyan strains exhibited high sequence homology with respect to those from other countries. Natural selection analysis based on the VP1 region showed that the Kenyan EV68 isolates were under purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that majority (84.6%) of the Kenyan strains belonged to clade A, while a minority belonged to clades B and C. Overall, our results illustrate that although EV68 strains isolated in Kenya were genetically and antigenically divergent from the prototype strain (Fermon), they were closely related to those circulating in other countries, suggesting worldwide transmissibility. Further, the presence of shared mutations by Kenyan EV68 strains and those isolated in other countries, indicates evolution in the VP1 region may be contributing to increased worldwide detection of the viruses. This is the first study to document circulation of EV68 in Kenya.     

Characterization of full-length enterovirus 71 strains from severe and mild disease patients in northeastern China

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71)-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been a leading cause of childhood infection in China since 2008. Epidemic and molecular characteristics of HFMD have been examined in many areas of China, including the central and southern regions. However, clinical and genetic characterization of EV71 in the northeastern region of China is scarce. In this study, a series of analyses were performed on seven full-length EV71 sequences from HFMD patients who had either severe or mild disease. We have determined that these seven circulating EV71 viruses from Changchun, China are actually complex recombinant viruses involving multiple type A human enterovirus (HEV). Classified as EV71 subtype C4 (EV71 C4), these Changchun EV71 viruses contain genetic recombination events between the CA4, CA5, EV71B4 and EV71C1 strains. Most of the structural protein region (P1) of these viruses resembled that of the prototype EV71 C1 strains. The non-structural protein domains (P2 and P3) showed a high degree of similarity with CA4, CA5 and EV71 B4 in different regions. The 5'UTR had unclassified recombination,while partial 3D region of these viruses showed a high degree of similarity to CA16. Phylogenetic analysis of full-length or partial sequences of isolates from severe or mild disease patients in Changchun always formed a single cluster in various phylogenetic analyses of different genomic regions, suggesting that all seven strains originated from one single common ancestor. There was no correlation between viral genomic sequence and virulence. Thus, we found that circulating recombinant forms of EV71 are prevalent among HFMD patients in Northeastern China. The existence of a unique cluster of EV71 related viruses in Northeast China has important implications for vaccine development that would address the increasing prevalence of HFMD.