UNDERSTANDING THE NEUROVIRULENCE OF ENTEROVIRUS 71

NITD008, an adenosine nucleoside analog, was shown to fully protect EV71-infected two-week old AG129 mice from morbidity and mortality. NSC-34, a murine motor neuron cell line, was found to be susceptible and permissive to EV71 infection, with S41 strain being the most infectious in NSC-34 cells while MS and C2 strains were impaired at entry, replication and/or egress. EV71 exited NSC-34 cells via autophagic vacuoles. S41-infected AG129 mice exhibited morbidity and mortality while MS- or C2-infected mice were asymptomatic. S41-infected mice had high virus titers and histopathological damage in the CNS and this was not detected in MS-/C2-infected mice. Substitution of the 149th amino acid in VP2 protein from isoleucine to lysine (VP2I149K) in S41 resulted in complete loss of infectivity in NSC-34 cells due to an impairment at entry. Infection of mice with VP2I149K ameliorated morbidity and mortality. Reduced viral titers in the spinal cord and brain were observed.

Author dc:creator

• YEO HUIMIN

• EV71, neurovirulence, mouse model, NSC-34, NITD008, AG129