A comparison of the biological characteristics of EV71 C4 subtypes from different epidemic strains

The comparative analysis of the biological characterization and the genetic background study of EV71 circulating strains is commonly recognized as basic work necessary for development of an effective EV71 vaccine. In this study, we sequenced five EV71 circulating strains, isolated from Fuyang, Hefei, Kunming and Shenzhen city of China and named them FY-23, FY-22, H44, K9 and S1 respectively. The sequence alignment demonstrated their genotypes be C4. The genetic distance of the VP1 gene from these isolates suggested that they were highly co-related with genetic identity similar to other previously reported EV71 strains in China. Additionally, these strains were identified to display some obvious proliferation dynamics and plaque morphology when propagated in Vero cells. However, a distinctive difference in pathogenic ability in neonatal mice was found. Some differences in cross neutralization test &; immunogenic analysis were also found. All these results are related to the biological characterization of circulating EV71 strains in China and aid in the development of an EV71 vaccine in the future.     

Myristoylation of EV71 VP4 is Essential for Infectivity and Interaction with Membrane Structure

Virologica Sinica - The Enterovirus 71 (EV71) VP4 is co-translationally linked to myristic acid at its amino-terminal glycine residue. However, the role of this myristoylation in the EV71 life...     

濮阳市2008—2012年手足口病流行病学特征分析

目的了解濮阳市手足口病流行病学特征,为制定防控策略提供科学依据。方法通过国家疾病监测信息管理系统收集的全市2008—2012年6月6日手足口病疫情资料进行描述和分析,并对部分病例和重症病例标本进行肠道病毒病原学检测。结果全市共报手足口病16 492例,发病高峰是每年的3-5月(第12～20周),呈典型的单峰型曲线;发病年龄以0～4岁居多;男性多于女性;散居儿童多于托幼机构儿童,爆发病例多发生在托幼机构,手足口病病原有EV71、CoxA16和其他肠道病毒,以EV71和CoxA16为主。结论手足口病发病有明显的季节性、年龄和性别差异,小年龄组儿童是手足口病预防控制重点人群,流行年度和流行季节的优势毒株为EV71,重症患者中EV71占到86.35%;非流行年和季节手足病例主要由CoxA16和其他肠道病毒引起。手足口病防控重点应体现在对病例分类管理上,同时应继续加强重症病例疫情监测和爆发控制。     

Monoclonal neutralizing antibodies against EV71 screened from mice immunized with yeast-produced virus-like particles

Periodic outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) occur in children under 5 years old, and can cause death in some cases. The C4 strain of enterovirus 71(EV71) is the main pathogen that causes HFMD in China. Although no drugs against EV71 are available, some studies have shown that candidate vaccines or viral capsid proteins can produce anti-EV71 immunity. In this study, female BABL/c mice(6–8 weeks old) were immunized with virus-like particles(VLPs) of EV71 produced in yeast to screen for anti-EV71 antibodies. Two hybridomas that could produce neutralizing antibodies against EV71 were obtained. Both neutralizing m Abs(D4 and G12) were confirmed to bind the VP1 capsid protein of EV71, and could protect 95% cells from 100 TCID50 EV71 infection at 25 μg/m L solution(lowest concentration). Those two neutralizing m Abs identified in the study may be promising candidates in development for m Abs to treat EV71 infection, and utilized as suitable reagents for use in diagnostic tests and biological studies.     

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。     

以EV71 3Cpro为靶标的抗病毒药物筛选模型的建立及抗3Cpro化合物筛选

建立一种以EV71 3C蛋白酶为靶标的抗肠病毒药物筛选模型,并应用于小分子化合物库筛选具有抗EV71活性的化合物.从临床手足口病例标本中分离肠道病毒进行PCR鉴定及基因组测序.通过插入突变在黄色荧光YFP编码框合适位点处引入EV71 3C酶切位点,构建对3C蛋白酶敏感的报告质粒pc DNA3-m YFP,然后将其与表达3C的质粒共转293A细胞,在3C抑制剂Rupintrivir存在与否的情况下通过荧光显微镜和酶标仪检测Ex(500nm)/Em(535nm)荧光信号的变化,判断建模是否成功;利用建好的筛选模型在高通量药物筛选平台对小分子化合物库进行初筛和复筛;再利用空斑分析检测筛选出的活性化合物是否对临床分离的EV71毒株具有抑制作用.m YFP在293A细胞中表达良好,3C的表达使荧光信号下降80%,Rupintrivir的存在则几乎不影响荧光表达,说明以3C为靶位的筛选模型构建成功.经过高通量初筛和复筛从26 000多种小分子化合物中获得26种能够显著回复m YFP表达的活性化合物;空斑分析显示其中2种化合物具有较为明显的抑制EV71复制的活性.因此,我们所构建的3C-m YFP共表达系统是一种简便有效的、可用于高通量筛选抗EV71 3C~(pro)药物的筛选模型.     

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.     

ANXA2 Facilitates Enterovirus 71 Infection by Interacting with 3D Polymerase and PI4KB to Assist the Assembly of Replication Organelles

Virologica Sinica - Similar to that of other enteroviruses, the replication of enterovirus 71 (EV71) occurs on rearranged membranous structures called replication organelles (ROs)....     

TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 is Cleaved by the Protease 3C of Enterovirus A71

Enterovirus A71(EV-A71) is one of the etiological pathogens leading to hand, foot, and mouth disease(HFMD), which can cause severe neurological complications. The neuropathogenesis of EV-A71 infection is not well understood. The mislocalization and aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43(TDP-43) is the pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS). However, whether TDP-43 was impacted by EV-A71 infection is unknown. This study demonstrated that TDP-43 was cleaved during EV-A71 infection. The cleavage of TDP-43 requires EV-A71 replication rather than the activated caspases due to viral infection. TDP-43 is cleaved by viral protease 3 C between the residues 331 Q and332 S, while mutated TDP-43(Q331 A) was not cleaved. In addition, mutated 3 C which lacks the protease activity failed to induce TDP-43 cleavage. We also found that TDP-43 was translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and the mislocalization of TDP-43 was induced by viral protease 2 A rather than 3 C. Taken together, we demonstrated that TDP-43 was cleaved by viral protease and translocated to the cytoplasm during EV-A71 infection, implicating the possible involvement of TDP-43 in the pathogenesis of EV-A71 infection.     

Antiviral effects of two Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids against enterovirus 71 infection

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major causative agent for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and fatal neurological and systemic complications in children. However, there is currently no clinical approved antiviral drug available for the prevention and treatment of the viral infection. Here, we evaluated the antiviral activities of two Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids (GLTs), Lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3-one,15;26-dihydroxy (GLTA) and Ganoderic acid Y (GLTB), against EV71 infection. The results showed that the two natural compounds display significant anti-EV71 activities without cytotoxicity in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells as evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay. The mechanisms by which the two compounds affect EV71 infection were further elucidated by three action modes using Ribavirin, a common antiviral drug, as a positive control. The results suggested that GLTA and GLTB prevent EV71 infection through interacting with the viral particle to block the adsorption of virus to the cells. In addition, the interactions between EV71 virion and the compounds were predicated by computer molecular docking, which illustrated that GLTA and GLTB may bind to the viral capsid protein at a hydrophobic pocket (F site), and thus may block uncoating of EV71. Moreover, we demonstrated that GLTA and GLTB significantly inhibit the replication of the viral RNA (vRNA) of EV71 replication through blocking EV71 uncoating. Thus, GLTA and GLTB may represent two potential therapeutic agents to control and treat EV71 infection.     

Different Epidemic Potentials of the HIV-1B and C Subtypes

HIV, the cause of AIDS in humans, is characterized by great genetic heterogeneity. In particular, HIV-1 group M subtypes are responsible for most of the infections worldwide. We investigate the demographic history of HIV-1B and HIV-1C subtypes in South Africa and Brazil using both a parametric and a nonparametric approach based on coalescent theory. Our results show that although both subtypes are spreading exponentially in Brazil, the HIV-1C growth rate is about twice that of Brazilian HIV-1B or South African HIV-1C, providing evidence, for the first time, of a different epidemic potential between two HIV-1 subtypes. The present study not only may have important consequences for devising future vaccination and therapeutic strategies, but also offers additional evidence that skyline plots are indeed a simple and powerful tool for monitoring and predicting the behavior of viral epidemics.Reviewing Editor: Dr. Yves Van de Peer     

Optimize the interactions at S4 with efficient inhibitors targeting 3C proteinase from enterovirus 71

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the causative agent of hand, foot and mouth disease and can spread its infections to the central nervous and other systems with severe consequences. The replication of EV71 depends on its 3C proteinase (3C^pro), a significant drug target. By X‐ray crystallography and functional assays, the interactions between inhibitors and EV71 3C^pro were evaluated. It was shown that improved interactions at S4 for the substrate binding could significantly enhance the potency. A new series of potent inhibitors with high ligand efficiency was generated for developing antivirals to treat and control the EV71‐associated diseases. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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。     

Virucidal activity and the antiviral mechanism of acidic polysaccharides against Enterovirus 71 infection in vitro

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the predominant pathogen for severe hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in children younger than 5 years, and currently no effective drugs are available for EV71. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs for the control of EV71 infection. In this study, LJ04 was extracted from Laminaria japonica using diethylaminoethyl cellulose-52 with 0.4 mol/l NaCl as the eluent, and its virucidal activity was evaluated based on its cytopathic effects on a microplate. LJ04 is composed of fucose, galactose, and mannose and mainly showed good virucidal activity against EV71. The antiviral mechanisms of LJ04 were the direct inactivation of the virus, the blockage of virus binding, disruptions to viral entry, and weak inhibitory activity against the nonstructural protein 3C. The two most important findings from this study were that LJ04 inhibited EV71 proliferation in HM1900 cells, which are a human microglia cell line, and that LJ04 can directly inactivate EV71 within 2 hr at 37°C. This study demonstrates for the first time the ability of a polysaccharide from L. japonica to inhibit viral and 3C activity; importantly, the inhibition of 3C might have a minor effect on the antiviral effect of LJ04. Consequently, our results identify LJ04 as a potential drug candidate for the control of severe EV71 infection in clinical settings.     

不同来源的猪苓菌株菌丝生物学特性比较

采用不同的培养方式,比较来自于不同适生区的猪苓菌株在菌丝形态特征和菌丝生产性能上的差异,优选性状优良的菌株以应用于猪苓的人工繁殖生产。结果表明,来源于黑龙江的菌株具有较强的大田繁殖能力和抗逆境能力。     

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.