Characterization of Nonpolio Enteroviruses Recovered from Patients with Aseptic Meningitis in Korea

Abstract

Objectives: We attempted to characterize nonpolio enteroviruses recovered from Korean patients with aseptic meningitis. Methods: We performed RT-PCR on the 5′-nontranslated region using clinical specimens. Infectious clinical isolates were amplified by infecting Vero cells with RT-PCR-positive clinical specimens. We then investigated the direct effect in primary neuronal cells or cardiomyocytes following virus infection. Results: Total 12 clinical isolates were subtypically analyzed by both RT-PCR/sequencing comparison of the VP-1 region and neutralization assay. 43-2, 43-2S, 57 and 58 were found to be coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1), 312 to be CVB5, 14-2S and 327 to be echovirus 6, 165 to be echovirus 9, 337 to be echovirus 11, and 270 to be echovirus 30. All the clinical isolates tested showed profound cytotoxicity to various degrees in the primary neuronal cells within 24 h postinfection at 10 MOI. By contrast, a significant cytopathic effect was observed in the primary cardiomyocytes at 3–5 days postinfection at 50 MOI. Conclusions: The present study suggests that the clinical isolates recovered from Korean patients belonged to different CVB or echovirus serotypes and that these viruses showed diversities in their virulence in primary neuronal cells and cardiomyocytes.

Host Cell Calpains Can Cleave Structural Proteins from the Enterovirus Polyprotein

“…Since calpain activity has been shown to be involved in the infections of several viruses, calpains have been suggested as potential targets for antiviral therapies. Our previous and current results suggest that calpain inhibition could also be targeted against enteroviral infections and diseases such as myocarditis, meningitis, or sepsis-like syndrome of infants [2][3][4][52][53][54][55]. It can be speculated that, during evolution, enteroviruses have adapted to using the readily available and active cellular proteases to promote their infection.…”

Phylogenetic analysis of complete VP1 sequences of echoviruses 11 and 6: high genetic diversity and circulation of genotypes with a wide geographical and temporal range

“…The circulation of these genotypes throughout the world and over time has been studied to increase our understanding of the dynamics of their transmission, to evaluate their endemicity and to explain the extent of epidemics when they occur. Beyond type identification, sequencing of the VP1 region has also proved to be a reliable method for such molecular epidemiological studies.Echovirus 6 (E6) and echovirus 11 (E11) are among the most commonly isolated HEVs worldwide, and are frequently associated with outbreaks and sporadic cases of aseptic meningitis, as well as with several diseases ranging from mild non-specific illness to encephalitis, paralysis, myocarditis and severe systemic infections in neonates (Abe et al, 2000;Ashwell et al, 1996;Atkinson et al, 1998;Bahri et al, 2005;Belguith et al, 2007a;Boyd et al, 1987;Cabrerizo et al, 2008;Chomel et al, 2003;Druyts-Voets, 1997;El-Sageyer et al, 1998;Joo et al, 2005;Khetsuriani et al, 2006;Mao et al, 2010;Mirand et al, 2008;Miwa & Sawatari, 1994;Somekh et al, 2001;Ventura et al, 2001). However, despite their important impact on human health, studies of the molecular epidemiology of E6 and E11 remain limited.…”

Molecular detection and characterization of human enteroviruses in Korean surface water

“…These findings imply that the sequences in cluster C clearly differ from those in the other clusters, and that these sequences possibly originated from echovirus type 30. Several studies were conducted to evaluate echovirus type 30, and a local case of aseptic meningitis caused by this virus has been reported (Joo et al, 2005;Faustini et al, 2006;Zhao et al, 2006).…”