Prevalence of Multiple Enteroviruses Associated with Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease in Shijiazhuang City,Hebei Province,China: Outbreaks of Coxsackieviruses A10 and B3

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been one of the most common infectious diseases in Shijiazhuang City, as is the situation in China overall. In the National HFMD surveillance system, the pathogen detection was focused on EV-A71 and CVA16, and therefore, information on the other EVs is very limited. In order to identify the circulating EV serotypes in the HFMD outbreaks in Shijiazhuang City during 2010–2012, 4045 patients presented with HFMD were recruited in the study, and clinical samples were investigated. Typing of EV serotypes was performed using the molecular typing methods, and phylogenetic analyses based on entire VP1 sequences of human enterovirus 71 (EV-A71), coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), CVA10 and CVB3 was performed. The results revealed that EV-A71 and CVA16 were the 2 most important pathogens but the circulating trends of the 2 viruses showed a shift, the spread of EV-A71 became increasingly weak, whereas the spread of CVA16 became increasingly stronger. CVA10 and CVB3 were the third and fourth most prevalent pathogens, respectively. Co-infection of two viruses at the same time was not found in these samples. Based on entire VP1 region sequences, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that C4a subgenotype EV-A71, B1a and B1b subgenotype CVA16 continued to evolve. The CVA10 strains were assigned to 4 genotypes (A–D), whereas the CVB3 strains were assigned to 5 genotypes (A–E), with clear geographical and temporal-specific distributions. The Shijiazhuang CVA10 sequences belonged to 4 epidemic lineages within genotype C, whereas the Shijiazhuang CVB3 sequences belonged to 2 epidemic lineages within genotype E, which may have the same origins as the strains reported in other part of China. CVA10 and CVB3, 2 pathogens that were previously infrequently detected, were identified as pathogens causing the HFMD outbreaks. This study underscores the need for detailed laboratory-based surveillances of HFMD in mainland China.     

2013-2019年全国手足口病ECHO-9的分子流行病学研究

埃可病毒9型(Echovirus 9,ECHO-9)是引起无菌性脑膜炎(Aseptic meningitis,AM)和手足口病(Hand,foot,and mouth disease,HFMD)暴发流行的重要病原体,但目前全球关于ECHO-9分子流行病学研究仍比较匮乏,ECHO-9基于VP1全长的基因分型结果尚未明确。本研究依托国家HFMD监测网络,2013-2019年在中国大陆共分离到15株ECHO-9毒株,对其进行VP1区全长序列测定和分析,并与GenBank中下载的全部112条ECHO-9VP1区全长序列共同构建系统发育进化树。结果显示,全球ECHO-9分为A-G七个基因型,其中C、D和F基因型可被进一步划分为C1-C2,D1-D4和F1-F2基因亚型。各洲之间优势基因型别有显著差异,亚洲和欧洲分别以D和C基因型为绝对优势基因型。中国大陆ECHO-9优势基因型别为D基因型,但其优势基因亚型随时间推移有明显转变。2000-2005年,中国大陆ECHO-9全部为D1基因亚型,2006年开始出现D1、D2和D3基因亚型的共同流行,2010年后D1和D2基因亚型消失,D3成为中国大陆绝对优势基因型别。本研究测定的15株ECHO-9分离自2013-2019年,其中14株属于D3基因亚型,1株江西ECHO-9为C2基因亚型,推测其可能来源于境外。本研究建立了全球ECHO-9基于VP1全长的基因分型方法,揭示了ECHO-9在全国及全球范围的分子流行特征。     

National Epidemiology and Evolutionary History of Four Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease-Related Enteroviruses in China from 2008 to 2016

Hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) is a major public health concern in China. The most predominant enteroviruses that cause HFMD have traditionally been attributed to enterovirus A71(EVA71) and coxsackievirus A16(CVA16). Since its first large outbreak in 2008, the dominant HFMD pathogens are constantly changing. In 2013 and 2015, CVA6 exceeded both EVA71 and CVA16 to become the leading cause of HFMD in some provinces. However, there still lacks a comprehensive overview on the molecular epidemiology and evolution of HFMD-related enteroviruses at the national level. In this study, we performed systematic epidemiological analyses of HFMD-related enteroviruses using the data of 64 published papers that met the inclusion criteria, and conducted phylogenetic analyses based on 12,080 partial VP1 sequences identified in China before 31 st June 2018. We found that EVA71 prevalence has decreased sharply but other enteroviruses have increased rapidly from 2008 to 2016 and that one subtype of each enterovirus is represented during the epidemic. In addition, four genotypes EVA71_C4, CVA16_B1, CVA6_D and CVA10_C are the most predominant enterovirus strains and collectively they cause over 90% of all HFMD cases in China according to the phylogenetic trees using representative partial VP1 sequences. These four major enterovirus genotypes have different geographical distributions, and they may cocirculate with other genotypes and serotypes. These results suggest that more molecular epidemiological studies should be performed on several enteroviruses simultaneously, and such information should have implications for virological surveillance, disease management, vaccine development and policy-making on the prevention and control of HFMD.     

Epidemics and Frequent Recombination within Species in Outbreaks of Human Enterovirus B-Associated Hand,Foot and Mouth Disease in Shandong China in 2010 and 2011

The epidemiology and molecular characteristics of human enterovirus B (HEV-B) associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks in China are not well known. In the present study, we tested 201 HEV isolates from 233 clinical specimens from patients with severe HFMD during 2010–2011 in Linyi, Shandong, China. Of the 201 isolates, 189 were fully typed and 18 corresponded to HEV-B species (six serotypes CVA9, CVB1, CVB4, Echo 6, Echo 25 and Echo 30) using sensitive semi-nested polymerase chain reaction analysis of VP1 gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis based on the VP1 region showed that eight E30SD belonged to a novel sub-genogroup D2; E25SD belonged to a novel sub-genogroup D6; E6SD belonged to sub-lineage C6 and five CVB1SD belonged to subgroup 4C; and B4SD belonged sub-lineage D2. The full viral genomes of the CVB1SD, E6SD, E25SD and E30SD isolates were sequenced. Analysis of phylogenetic and similarity plots indicated that E25SD recombined with E25-HN-2, E30FDJS03 and E4AUS250 at noncontiguous P2A–P3D regions, while E30SD, E30FDJ03, E25-HN-2 and E9 DM had shared sequences in discrete regions of P2 and P3. Both E6SD and B1SD shared sequences with E1-HN, B4/GX/10, B5-HN, and A9-Alberta in contiguous regions of most of P2 and P3. Genetic algorithm recombination detection analysis further confirmed the existence of multiple potential recombination points. In conclusion, analysis of the complete genomes of E25SD, E30SD, CVB1SD and E6SD isolated from HFMD patients revealed that they formed novel subgenogroup. Given the prevalence and recombination of these viruses in outbreaks of HFMD, persistent surveillance of HFMD-associated HEV-B pathogens is required to predict potential emerging viruses and related disease outbreaks.     

Serial recombination during circulation of type 1 wild-vaccine recombinant polioviruses in China

Type 1 wild-vaccine recombinant polioviruses sharing a 367-nucleotide (nt) block of Sabin 1-derived sequence spanning the VP1 and 2A genes circulated widely in China from 1991 to 1993. We surveyed the sequence relationships among 34 wild-vaccine recombinants by comparing six genomic intervals: the conserved 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) (nt 186 to 639), the hypervariable portion of the 5'-UTR (nt 640 to 742), the VP4 and partial VP2 genes (nt 743 to 1176), the VP1 gene (nt 2480 to 3385), the 2A gene (nt 3386 to 3832), and the partial 3D gene (nt 6011 to 6544). The 5'-UTR, capsid (VP4-VP2 and VP1), and 2A sequence intervals had similar phylogenies. By contrast, the partial 3D sequences could be distributed into five divergent genetic classes. Most (25 of 34) of the wild-vaccine recombinant isolates showed no evidence of additional recombination beyond the initial wild-Sabin recombination event. Eight isolates from 1992 to 1993, however, appear to be derived from three independent additional recombination events, and one 1993 isolate was derived from two consecutive events. Complete genomic sequences of a representative isolate for each 3D sequence class demonstrated that these exchanges had occurred in the 2B, 2C, and 3D genes. The 3D gene sequences were not closely related to those of the Sabin strains or 53 diverse contemporary wild poliovirus isolates from China, but all were related to the 3D genes of species C enteroviruses. The appearance within approximately 2.5 years of five recombinant classes derived from a single ancestral infection illustrates the rapid emergence of new recombinants among circulating wild polioviruses.     

柯萨奇病毒A组2、6、8、12型山东地方株型别鉴定及其基因特征分析

在前期研究中,对山东省1989～2011年急性弛缓性麻痹(Acute flaccid paralysis,AFP)和手足口病(Hand,foot and mouth disease,HFMD)患者标本中分离到的部分人类肠道病毒(Human enteroviruses,HEVs)进行分子定型,发现了8个HEV-A血清型。为进一步探究HEV-A组病毒在山东省的基因型分布及分子进化特征,本研究继续对剩余分离株进行核酸提取,以HEV-A组特异性引物对VP1完整编码区进行序列扩增、测序和分子定型,又鉴定出4个血清型,分别为柯萨奇病毒A组(Coxsackievirus A,CVA)2、6、8、12型,共7株病毒。同源性分析显示,7株HEV-A山东分离株与其原型株核苷酸同源性介于80.8%～85.0%之间。系统进化树表明,CVA8、12型山东分离株与国内分离株存在一定亲缘关系,而CVA2、6型山东株同国内外分离株亲缘关系均较远,并且CVA2、6型在山东省内可能存在多个传播链。本研究将我省HEV-A组的血清型别增加至12个,进一步丰富了HEV-A山东地方株的遗传进化特征,并且发现CVA2、6、8、12血清型在山东省甚至全国范围内存在不同基因特征的传播链的共循环。     

Molecular Epidemiology of Echovirus 18 Circulating in Mainland China from 2015 to 2016

Echovirus 18(E18), a serotype of Enterovirus B(EV-B) species, is an important pathogen in aseptic meningitis. E18 had rarely been detected in mainland China, but became the predominant pathogen associated with viral encephalitis(VE) and meningitis in Hebei province for the first time in 2015. To investigate the molecular epidemiology and genetic characteristics of E18 in mainland China, sixteen E18 strains from patient throat swabs with hand, foot, and mouth disease(HFMD) in six provinces in China collected between 2015 and 2016, and four E18 strains isolated from 18 patient cerebrospinal fluid specimens with VE in Hebei Province in 2015 were obtained and sequenced. Combined with the sequences from the GenBank database, we performed an extensive genetic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of VP1 gene sequences revealed that all E18 strains from mainland China after 2015 belonged to subgenotype C2. There were no obvious specific differences in phylogenetic and variation analyses of E18 genome sequences between HFMD and VE/meningitis strains. Potential multiple recombination may have occurred in the 50-untranslated region and in the P2 and P3 nonstructural protein-encoding regions of E18 strains from China. The current E18 strains were potential multiplerecombinant viruses. Overall, these findings supported that E18 caused HFMD, VE, and meningitis, although there were no significant associations between clinical features and viral genomic characteristics.     

2014年陕西省柯萨奇病毒A10型相关手足口病的流行特征和其VP1区基因特征研究

了解陕西省手足口病(Hand,foot and mouth disease,HFMD)的致病病原体柯萨奇病毒A10型(CV-A10)的流行特征及VP1区基因特征。对2014年收集的HFMD病例标本,通过荧光定量PCR检测确定肠道病毒型别,对CV-A10引起的HFMD流行特征进行描述性分析。使用RD细胞进行病毒分离,RT-PCR扩增CV-A10的VP1区基因片段并进行序列测定,使用Meg Align软件进行核苷酸及氨基酸的同源性分析,并使用MEGA5.0软件构建系统进化树。2014年CV-A10是陕西HFMD病原谱中的第三大病原,占其他肠道病毒的57.71%,13例重症HFMD病例的致病病原体鉴定为CV-A10,占重症病例的9.03%。CV-A10感染HFMD病例以≤3岁年龄组儿童为主(83.07%),男女性别比为1.15∶1。发病时间主要集中在4～7月。实验室分离出101株CV-A10,覆盖全省10市(区)。完成测序的18株CV-A10核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为94.0%～100.0%和97.3%～100.0%,与A型原型株的核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为76.2%～77.5%和91.9%～93.0%,与近年来河北、湖南和河南地区流行株具有较高的同源性。系统进化显示陕西CV-A10分离株属于C基因型。CV-A10是2014年陕西HFMD的优势病原,能引起重症HFMD,本次分离到的CV-A10毒株均属于C基因型。     

RNA recombination plays a major role in genomic change during circulation of coxsackie B viruses

RNA recombination has been shown to occur during circulation of enteroviruses, but most studies have focused on poliovirus. To examine the role of recombination in the evolution of the coxsackie B viruses (CVB), we determined the partial sequences of four genomic intervals for multiple clinical isolates of each of the six CVB serotypes isolated from 1970 to 1996. The regions sequenced were the 5'-nontranslated region (5'-NTR) (350 nucleotides [nt]), capsid (VP4-VP2, 416 nt, and VP1, approximately 320 nt), and polymerase (3D, 491 nt). Phylogenetic trees were constructed for each genome region, using the clinical isolate sequences and those of the prototype strains of all 65 enterovirus serotypes. The partial VP1 sequences of each CVB serotype were monophyletic with respect to serotype, as were the VP4-VP2 sequences, in agreement with previously published studies. In some cases, however, incongruent tree topologies suggested that intraserotypic recombination had occurred between the sequenced portions of VP2 and VP1. Outside the capsid region, however, isolates of the same serotype were not monophyletic, indicating that recombination had occurred between the 5'-NTR and capsid, the capsid and 3D, or both. Almost all clinical isolates were recombinant relative to the prototype strain of the same serotype. All of the recombination partners appear to be members of human enterovirus species B. These results suggest that recombination is a frequent event during enterovirus evolution but that there are genetic restrictions that may influence recombinational compatibility.     

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Coxsackievirus A6 Strains of Different Clinical Disease Entities

Background

Studies regarding coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) infection were limited. In Taiwan, outbreaks of CVA6 occurred in 2009 and 2010, respectively, but the clinical manifestations were markedly different. We conducted a study to compare the clinical features and genomic sequence between the two years.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In 2009 and 2010, 205 patients with coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) infection were treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Detailed clinical features were obtained from 126 inpatients, 62 in 2009 and 64 in 2010. Between the inpatients in 2009 and 2010, no statistically significant difference was noted in terms of demographics, length of hospital stay and laboratory data. Significantly more patients in 2009 presented with herpangina (82%) while more patients in 2010 presented with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD; 67%) and skin rash beyond the typical sites for HFMD. Complete genomic sequences were determined and compared for three isolates from patients with herpangina in 2009 and three isolates from patients with HFMD in 2010. The complete sequences showed that 2009 and 2010 CVA6 isolates were indistinguishable by partial VP1 genes, but there were 5 unique nucleotide changes in 3′ UTR, and 23 out of 2201 (1%) amino acids were different. 2010 viruses underwent the largest number of amino acid changes in 3CD protein, which is the precursor of both 3C protease and 3D polymerase.

Conclusions

Since 2008 in Finland, outbreaks of HFMD due to CVA6 were noted internationally. CVA6 of different genetic background may cause different clinical manifestations such as herpangina and HFMD.     

Molecular Epidemiology of Coxsackievirus A16: Intratype and Prevalent Intertype Recombination Identified

Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is responsible for nearly 50% of all the confirmed hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in mainland China, sometimes it could also cause severe complications, and even death. To clarify the genetic characteristics and the epidemic patterns of CVA16 in mainland China, comprehensive bioinfomatics analyses were performed by using 35 CVA16 whole genome sequences from 1998 to 2011, 593 complete CVA16 VP1 sequences from 1981 to 2011, and prototype strains of human enterovirus species A (EV-A). Analysis on complete VP1 sequences revealed that subgenotypes B1a and B1b were prevalent strains and have been co-circulating in many Asian countries since 2000, especially in mainland China for at least 13 years. While the prevalence of subgenotype B1c (totally 20 strains) was much limited, only found in Malaysia from 2005 to 2007 and in France in 2010. Genotype B2 only caused epidemic in Japan and Malaysia from 1981 to 2000. Both subgenotypes B1a and B1b were potential recombinant viruses containing sequences from other EV-A donors in the 5’-untranslated region and P2, P3 non-structural protein encoding regions.     

云南省4株埃可病毒11型VP1基因特征分析

埃可病毒11型(Echovirus 11,ECHO11)属于肠道病毒B组,是最常见的人类肠道病毒(Human enterovirus,HEV)之一,常引起儿童无菌性脑膜炎、脑炎和急性迟缓性麻痹等疾病。为了对云南省手足口病(Hand,foot,and mouth disease,HFMD)监测中分离到的4株ECHO11毒株的VP1基因进行序列分析,并为云南地区ECHO11的进化及流行趋势等研究提供基础数据,本研究对收集到的HFMD病例标本进行病毒分离培养和鉴定,对鉴定为ECHO11的毒株VP1基因测定其完整序列,与GenBank上其他参考株的VP1区序列构建遗传进化树进行基因分析。结果显示,4株ECHO11型毒株分属A1和D5两个基因亚型,分别与各自基因亚型参考株的同源性为最高。D5基因亚型ECHO11分离株在进化树上聚集为3簇,提示存在多个传播链,其D5-1簇的VP1区氨基酸在多个位点上与同基因亚型的其他簇参考株存在特异突变。本研究揭示,云南地区存在两种不同基因亚型的ECHO11流行情况,特别是D5亚型的出现,提示我国周边流行的ECHO11基因型已进入中国大陆,应密切关注其流行变异情况,为今后制定由ECHO11引起的HFMD的公共卫生策略提供依据。     

Genotypes of the Enterovirus Causing Hand Foot and Mouth Disease in Shanghai,China, 2012-2013

Sporadic HFMD (hand foot and mouth disease, HFMD) cases and outbreaks caused by etiologic agents other than EV71 and CA16 have increased globally. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of enteroviruses, especially the non-EV71 and non-CA16 enteroviruses, causing HFMD in Shanghai. Clinical specimens were collected from patients with a diagnosis of HFMD. A partial length of VP1 was amplified with RT-PCR and subjected to direct sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using MEGA 5.0. The ages of the HFMD cases ranged from 3 to 96 months, and the male/female ratio was 1.41. The median hospital stay was 2.96 days. Up to 18.0% of patients had neurologic system complications such as encephalitis, meningoencephalitis or meningitis. Of the 480 samples, 417 were positive for enterovirus (86.9%) with RT-PCR. A total of 13 enterovirus genotypes were identified. The most frequent genotypes were CA6 (31.9%), EV71 (30.6%), CA16 (8.8%) and CA10 (7.5%). Infections with CA6, EV71, CA16 and CA10 were prevalent throughout the years of study, while the proportion of CA6 notably increased from Sep. 2012 to Dec. 2013. Phylogenetic analyses showed that EV71 strains belonged to the C4a subgenogroup and CA16 was identified as B1b subgenogroup. The CA6 strains were assigned to genogroup F, whereas the CA10 strains were assigned to genogroup D. Patients infected with CA6 were typically younger, had a shorter hospital stay and had a lower incidence of neurologic system complications when compared to patients infected with EV71. Our study demonstrates that the enterovirus genotypes causing HFMD were diversified, and there was an increasing prevalence of the non-EV71 and non-CA16 enteroviruses from 2012 to 2013. CA6 was the most predominant pathogen causing HFMD from Sep. 2012 to Dec. 2013, and it often caused relatively mild HFMD symptoms. Most severe HFMD cases were associated with EV71 infection.     

柯萨奇病毒A组16型衣壳蛋白VP1的原核表达及初步活性测定

目的:原核表达柯萨奇病毒A组16型(CVA16)衣壳蛋白VP1,以便于研制血清学检测试剂。方法:在基因库中钓取CVA16-VP1的全长序列,采用PCR逐步合成法合成其全长基因,测序正确后克隆到表达载体pET28a(+)中,构建重组表达质粒pET28a(+)/VP1,转化大肠杆菌BL21,IPTG诱导表达,利用Ni2+亲和层析柱对重组蛋白进行纯化;建立捕获免疫酶联法检测IgM抗体,检测20份手足口病阳性血清和30份阴性血清,评价重组抗原的灵敏度和特异性;采用CVA16全病毒免疫的抗小鼠血清进行Western印迹。结果:重组CVA16-VP1蛋白在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达;用重组蛋白抗原检测,20份手足口病患儿阳性血清中有4份阳性,其中1份同时为肠道病毒71型(EV71)VP1阳性,30份阴性血清无反应。结论:实现了CVA16-VP1的高效表达,初步结果显示重组蛋白具有较好的抗原性,为柯萨奇病毒A组16型诊断试剂的研究奠定了基础。     

2010年山东省环境污水中脊髓灰质炎病毒的监测及其基因特征分析

本研究在山东省开展了脊髓灰质炎病毒(Poliovirus,PV)的外环境监测,从济南、临沂两地采集污水标本,浓缩处理后进行病毒分离,对分离到的PV采用中和试验进行血清定型,并对其VP1及3D区进行序列测定,分析其基因突变和重组情况。2010年,共采集污水标本32份,PV阳性10份,阳性率31.3%;分离到18株PV(PV1型3株,PV2型9株,PV3型6株),均为疫苗相关株,VP1完整编码区核苷酸变异数在0~4个之间,在3株PV2型病毒和4株PV3型病毒的基因组中发现重组;对VP1区影响神经毒力的减毒位点分析发现,PV1型病毒中有1株在nt 2 749发生突变(A→G),PV2型病毒中有1株在nt2 908发生A→G突变,3株在nt2 909发生U→C突变,6株PV3型病毒全部在nt2 493发生C→U突变。环境污水中可以分离到PV,其基因重组率和主要减毒位点的回复突变率较高,未发现脊灰野毒株和疫苗衍生株脊灰病毒(Vaccine-derived poliovirus,VDPV)。     

Molecular analysis of Coxsackievirus A24 variant isolates from three outbreaks of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in 1988, 1994 and 2007 in Beijing,China

Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) is a major pathogen that causes continued outbreaks and pandemics of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC). In China, the first confirmed outbreak of CVA24v-related AHC occurred in Beijing in 1988, followed by another two significant outbreaks respectively in 1994 and 2007, which coincides with the three-stage dynamic distribution of AHC in the world after 1970s. To illustrate the genetic characteristics of CVA24v in different periods, a total of 23 strains were isolated from those three outbreaks and the whole genome of those isolations were sequenced and analyzed. Compared with the prototype strain, the 23 strains shared four nucleotide deletions in the 5' UTR except the 0744 strain isolated in 2007. And at the 98th site, one nucleotide insertion was found in all the strains collected from 2007. From 1994 to 2007, amino acid polarity in the VP1 region at the 25th and the 32nd site were changed. Both the 3C and VP1 phylogenetic tree indicated that isolates from 1988 and 1994 belonged to Genotype III (GIII), and 2007 strains to Genotype IV (GIV). According to the Bayesian analysis based on complete genome sequence, the most recent common ancestors for the isolates in 1988, 1994 and 2007 were respectively estimated around October 1987, February 1993 and December 2004. The evolutionary rate of the CVA24v was estimated to be 7.45×10^-3 substitutions/site/year. Our study indicated that the early epidemic of CVA24v in Chinese mainland was the GIII. Point mutations and amino acid changes in different genotypes of CVA24v may generate intensity differences of the AHC outbreak. CVA24v has been evolving constantly with a relatively rapid rate.     

Co-Circulation and Genomic Recombination of Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 during a Large Outbreak of Hand,Foot, and Mouth Disease in Central China

A total of 1844 patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), most of them were children of age 1–3-year-old, in Central China were hospitalized from 2011 to 2012. Among them, 422 were infected with coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16), 334 were infected with enterovirus 71 (EV71), 38 were co-infected with EV71 and CVA16, and 35 were infected with other enteroviruses. Molecular epidemiology analysis revealed that EV71 and CVA16 were detected year-round, but EV71 circulated mainly in July and CVA16 circulated predominantly in November, and incidence of HFMD was reduced in January and February and increased in March. Clinical data showed that hyperglycemia and neurologic complications were significantly higher in EV71-infected patients, while upper respiratory tract infection and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in CVA16-associated patients. 124 EV71 and 80 CVA16 strains were isolated, among them 56 and 68 EV71 strains were C4a and C4b, while 25 and 55 CVA16 strains were B1a and B1b, respectively. Similarity plots and bootscan analyses based on entire genomic sequences revealed that the three C4a sub-genotype EV71 strains were recombinant with C4b sub-genotype EV71 in 2B–2C region, and the three CVA16 strains were recombinant with EV71 in 2A–2B region. Thus, CVA16 and EV71 were the major causative agents in a large HFMD outbreak in Central China. HFMD incidence was high for children among household contact and was detected year-round, but outbreak was seasonal dependent. CVA16 B1b and EV71 C4b reemerged and caused a large epidemic in China after a quiet period of many years. Moreover, EV71 and CVA16 were co-circulated during the outbreak, which may have contributed to the genomic recombination between the pathogens. It should gain more attention as there may be an upward trend in co-circulation of the two pathogens globally and the new role recombination plays in the emergence of new enterovirus variants.     

Molecular evolution of a type 1 wild-vaccine poliovirus recombinant during widespread circulation in China

Type 1 wild-vaccine recombinant polioviruses were isolated from poliomyelitis patients in China from 1991 to 1993. We compared the sequences of 34 recombinant isolates over the 1,353-nucleotide (nt) genomic interval (nt 2480 to 3832) encoding the major capsid protein, VP1, and the protease, 2A. All recombinants had a 367-nt block of sequence (nt 3271 to 3637) derived from the Sabin 1 oral poliovirus vaccine strain spanning the 3'-terminal sequences of VP1 (115 nt) and the 5' half of 2A (252 nt). The remaining VP1 sequences were closely (up to 99.5%) related to those of a major genotype of wild type 1 poliovirus endemic to China up to 1994. In contrast, the non-vaccine-derived sequences at the 3' half of 2A were more distantly related (<90% nucleotide sequence match) to those of other contemporary wild polioviruses from China. The vaccine-derived sequences of the earliest (April 1991) isolates completely matched those of Sabin 1. Later isolates diverged from the early isolates primarily by accumulation of synonymous base substitutions (at a rate of approximately 3.7 x 10(-2) substitutions per synonymous site per year) over the entire VP1-2A interval. Distinct evolutionary lineages were found in different Chinese provinces. From the combined epidemiologic and evolutionary analyses, we propose that the recombinant virus arose during mixed infection of a single individual in northern China in early 1991 and that its progeny spread by multiple independent chains of transmission into some of the most populous areas of China within a year of the initiating infection.     

Human SCARB2-dependent infection by coxsackievirus A7, A14, and A16 and enterovirus 71

Human enterovirus species A (HEV-A) consists of at least 16 members of different serotypes that are known to be the causative agents of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), herpangina, and other diseases, such as respiratory disease and polio-like flaccid paralysis. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) are the major causative agents of HFMD. CVA5, CVA6, CVA10, and CVA12 mainly cause herpangina or are occasionally involved with sporadic cases of HFMD. We have previously shown that human scavenger receptor class B, member 2 (SCARB2) is a cellular receptor for EV71 and CVA16. Using a large number of clinical isolates of HEV-A, we explored whether all clinical isolates of EV71 and other serotypes of HEV-A infected cells via SCARB2. We tested this possibility by infecting L-SCARB2 cells, which are L929 cells expressing human SCARB2, by infecting human RD cells that had been treated with small interfering RNAs for SCARB2 and by directly binding the viruses to a soluble SCARB2 protein. We showed that all 162 clinical isolates of EV71 propagated in L-SCARB2 cells, suggesting that SCARB2 is the critical receptor common to all EV71 strains. In addition, CVA7, CVA14, and CVA16, which are most closely related to each other, also utilized SCARB2 for infection. EV71, CVA14, and CVA16 are highly associated with HFMD, and EV71 and CVA7 are occasionally associated with neurological diseases, suggesting that SCARB2 plays important roles in the development of these diseases. In contrast, another group of viruses, such as CVA2, CVA3, CVA4, CVA5, CVA6, CVA8, CVA10, and CVA12, which are relatively distant from the EV71 group, is associated mainly with herpangina. None of these clinical isolates infected via the SCARB2-dependent pathway. HEV-A viruses can be divided into at least two groups depending on the use of SCARB2, and the receptor usage plays an important role in developing the specific diseases for each group.