Enteroviruses: Up-to-Date Pathogenesis, Treatment, Prevention, Rapid Diagnosis, and Vaccine Development

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 6632

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Interests: virology; positive-sense RNA viruses; virus–host interaction; molecular diagnosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Enteroviruses are small and positive-sense RNA viruses, including poliovirus, Coxsackie A virus, Coxsackie B virus, echovirus, and other enteroviruses (EVD68~), which are the most widespread serious and fatal diseases (aseptic meningitis). Pathogens of neonatal sepsis include diseases of advanced vertebrates including humans, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), nonspecific febrile diseases, hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), herpetic angina, pleural pain, pericarditis and myocarditis. Enteroviruses are found in the gastrointestinal tract (the feces of infected people, the mouth) and the respiratory tract (such as saliva, sputum or nasal mucus). Direct contact with an infected person’s secretions or contaminated surfaces or objects may cause infection. Neonatal infections can also be obtained vertically from the mother who infects the mother in the womb or at the time of delivery. Humans appear to be the only known host and source of enterovirus transmission. The importance of enteroviruses in human health and the limited intervention strategies that combat enterovirus infections make it urgent to better understand the molecular and biological characteristics of these viruses and to develop effective strategies to prevent them from infecting humans. The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a solid foundation for the latest discoveries in enterovirus research, including viral molecular and structural biology, viral–host interactions, viral pathogenesis, antiviral strategies, and vaccine development.

Dr. Robert Yung Liang Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • enterovirus
  • virus–host interaction
  • pathogenesis, antiviral strategy
  • vaccine

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 483 KiB  
Article
Response of Severe EV71-Infected Patients to Hyperimmune Plasma Treatment: A Pilot Study
by Chonnamet Techasaensiri, Artit Wongsa, Thanyawee Puthanakit, Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit, Tawee Chotpitayasunondh, Ubonwon Charoonruangrit, Somjai Sombatnimitsakul, Pilaipan Puthavathana, Hatairat Lerdsamran, Prasert Auewarakul and Boonrat Tassaneetrithep
Pathogens 2021, 10(5), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10050625 - 19 May 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2665
Abstract
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is highly prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. It particularly affects children under five years of age. The most common causative agents are coxsackieviruses A6 and A16, and enterovirus A71 (EV71). The clinical presentation is usually mild [...] Read more.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is highly prevalent in East and Southeast Asia. It particularly affects children under five years of age. The most common causative agents are coxsackieviruses A6 and A16, and enterovirus A71 (EV71). The clinical presentation is usually mild and self-limited, but, in some cases, severe and fatal complications develop. To date, no specific therapy or worldwide vaccine is available. In general, viral infection invokes both antibody and cell-mediated immune responses. Passive immunity transfer can ameliorate the severe symptoms of diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, MERS, and SARS. Hyperimmune plasma (HIP) from healthy donors with high anti-EV71 neutralizing titer were used to transfuse confirmed EV71-infected children with neurological involvement (n = 6). It resulted in recovery within three days, with no neurological sequelae apparent upon examination 14 days later. Following HIP treatment, plasma chemokines were decreased, whereas anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines gradually increased. Interestingly, IL-6 and G-CSF levels in cerebrospinal fluid declined sharply within three days. These findings indicate that HIP has therapeutic potential for HFMD with neurological complications. However, given the small number of patients who have been treated, a larger cohort study should be undertaken. Successful outcomes would stimulate the development of anti-EV71 monoclonal antibody therapy. Full article
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13 pages, 2092 KiB  
Article
Molecular Epidemiological Study of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in a Kindergarten-Based Setting in Bangkok, Thailand
by Nipa Thammasonthijarern, Nathamon Kosoltanapiwat, Warisa Nuprasert, Pichamon Sittikul, Pimolpachr Sriburin, Wirichada Pan-ngum, Pannamas Maneekan, Somboon Hataiyusuk, Weerawan Hattasingh, Janjira Thaipadungpanit and Supawat Chatchen
Pathogens 2021, 10(5), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10050576 - 10 May 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3307
Abstract
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious childhood illness and annually affects millions of children aged less than 5 years across the Asia–Pacific region. HFMD transmission mainly occurs through direct contact (person-to-person) and indirect contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. Therefore, [...] Read more.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious childhood illness and annually affects millions of children aged less than 5 years across the Asia–Pacific region. HFMD transmission mainly occurs through direct contact (person-to-person) and indirect contact with contaminated surfaces and objects. Therefore, public health measures to reduce the spread of HFMD in kindergartens and daycare centers are essential. Based on the guidelines by the Department of Disease Control, a school closure policy for HFMD outbreaks wherein every school in Thailand must close when several HFMD classrooms (more than two cases in each classroom) are encountered within a week, was implemented, although without strong supporting evidence. We therefore conducted a prospective cohort study of children attending five kindergartens during 2019 and 2020. We used molecular genetic techniques to investigate the characteristics of the spreading patterns of HFMD in a school-based setting in Bangkok, Thailand. These analyses identified 22 index cases of HFMD (symptomatic infections) and 25 cases of enterovirus-positive asymptomatic contacts (24 students and one teacher). Enterovirus (EV) A71 was the most common enterovirus detected, and most of the infected persons (8/12) developed symptoms. Other enteroviruses included coxsackieviruses (CVs) A4, CV-A6, CV-A9, and CV-A10 as well as echovirus. The pattern of the spread of HFMD showed that 45% of the subsequent enteroviruses detected in each outbreak possessed the same serotype as the first index case. Moreover, we found a phylogenetic relationship among enteroviruses detected among contact and index cases in the same kindergarten. These findings confirm the benefit of molecular genetic assays to acquire accurate data to support school closure policies designed to control HFMD infections. Full article
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