The whole genome sequence of coxsackievirus B3 MKP strain leading to myocarditis and its molecular phylogenetic analysis

Leucoverdazyls as Novel Potent Inhibitors of Enterovirus Replication

Enteroviruses (EV) are important pathogens causing human disease with various clinical manifestations. To date, treatment of enteroviral infections is mainly supportive since no vaccination or antiviral drugs are approved for their prevention or treatment. Here, we describe the antiviral properties and mechanisms of action of leucoverdazyls-novel heterocyclic compounds with antioxidant potential. The lead compound, 1a, demonstrated low cytotoxicity along with high antioxidant and virus-inhibiting activity. A viral strain resistant to 1a was selected, and the development of resistance was shown to be accompanied by mutation of virus-specific non-structural protein 2C. This resistant virus had lower fitness when grown in cell culture. Taken together, our results demonstrate high antiviral potential of leucoverdazyls as novel inhibitors of enterovirus replication and support previous evidence of an important role of 2C proteins in EV replication.

Interleukin-17-A multifaceted cytokine in viral infections

Viral infections are a major threat to the human population due to the lack of selective therapeutic measures. The morbidity and mortality reported worldwide are very alarming against viral pathogens. The proinflammatory environment is required for viral inhibition by initiating the host immune response. The host immune response fights these pathogens by secreting different cytokines. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) a proinflammatory cytokine mainly produced by T helper type 17 cells, plays a vital role in the regulation of host immune response against various pathogens, including viruses. However, dysregulated production of IL-17 induces chronic inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and may lead to cancer. Recent studies suggest that IL-17 is not only involved in the antiviral immune response but also promotes virus-mediated illnesses. In this review, we discuss the protective and pathogenic role of IL-17 against various viral infections. A detailed understanding of IL-17 during viral infections could contribute to improve therapeutic measures and enable the development of an efficient and safe IL-17 based immunotherapy.

Oncolytic activity of a coxsackievirus B3 strain in human endometrial cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies globally. Although progress has been made in surgical and other adjuvant therapies, there is still a great need to develop new approaches to further reduce the incidence and mortality of EC. Oncolytic virotherapy offers a novel promising option of cancer treatment and has demonstrated good efficacy in preclinical models and clinical trials. However, only few oncolytic viruses have been tested for EC treatment. In this study, the potential of an oncolytic coxsackievirus B3 (CV-B3) strain 2035A (CV-B3/2035A) was investigated as a novel biotherapeutic agent against EC.

METHODS

Human EC cell lines (Ishikawa, HEC-1-A and HEC-1-B) were infected with CV-B3/2035A, and viral replication and cytotoxic effects were evaluated in vitro. CV-B3/2035A-induced oncolysis was also investigated in nude mice bearing EC xenografts in vivo and in patient-derived EC samples ex vivo.

RESULTS

Human EC cell lines expressing different levels of CAR and DAF were all susceptible to infection by CV-B3/2035A and supported efficient viral replication in vitro. In the EC xenograft/nude mouse model, both intratumoral and intravenous administrations of CV-B3-2035A exerted significant therapeutic effects against pre-established EC tumors without causing significant treatment-related toxicity and mortality in nude mice. Moreover, CV-B3/2035A treatment resulted in decreased viability of patient-derived EC samples ex vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

CV-B3/2035A showed oncolytic activity in human EC cell lines both in vitro and in vivo as well as in patient-derived EC samples ex vivo and thus could be used as an alternative virotherapy agent for the treatment of EC.

Pancreatitis in hand-foot-and-mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71

Some viruses, including certain members of the enterovirus genus, have been reported to cause pancreatitis, especially Coxsackie virus. However, no case of human enterovirus 71 (EV71) associated with pancreatitis has been reported so far. We here report a case of EV71-induced hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) presenting with pancreatitis in a 2-year-old girl. This is the first report of a patient with acute pancreatitis in HFMD caused by EV71. We treated the patient conservatively with nasogastric suction, intravenous fluid and antivirals. The patient’s symptoms improved after 8 d, and recovered without complications. We conclude that EV71 can cause acute pancreatitis in HFMD, which should be considered in differential diagnosis, especially in cases of idiopathic pancreatitis.

Isolation and genetic characterization of enterovirus in patients with febrile rash illness

Measles and rubella virus are usually considered as the causative agents in patients with febrile rash illness (FRI). However, investigators have identified that enteroviruses are also associated with FRI, and the present study was undertaken to investigate this association. In the study, 20 throat swab samples were collected from patients suffering from rash and fever between April and July in 2013. The 20 samples tested negative for measles virus, but all were positive when reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed using enterovirus universal primers. Specifically, five tested positive for Coxsackie B3 virus (CVB3). The titers of the five CVB3 isolates were 10^6.5, 10^6.4, 10^7.5, 10^6.5 and 10^6.5 tissue culture infectious dose₅₀/100 µl respectively. The partial VP1 sequences of the five CVB3 isolates were identical to each other and were closely associated with the CVB3/MKP and CVB3/Macocy strains, which are known to induce myocarditis and neonatal diseases of the central nervous system. In conclusion, CVB3 may cause symptoms of fever and rash and should be differentiated from measles, rubella and other infectious pathogens. The five CVB3 isolates described in the study were genetically similar to each other and to other local CVB3 strains. The results provide further data on the viral pathogen spectrum associated with FRI.