Edited by Prof Ben Berkhout
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) was first isolated and characterized from cases of neurological disease in California in 1969. It spread then to Europe with outbreaks in Bulgaria (1975) and Hungary (1978). It has since spread to various countries in Asia where it has been responsible for several serious outbreaks. EV71 is notable as one of the major causative agents for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and is sometimes associated with severe central nervous system diseases.
Much remains to be learned about the molecular mechanisms of EV71 replication and the host immune response. This special issue, published in Journal of Biomedical Science, presents reviews and primary research papers on EV71 that cover several topics: a clinical guideline on management of children with HFMD, epidemiology of EV71 in Thailand, the cell and tissue tropism and the regulation of gene expression, and finally animal models for EV71 and the developments of antiviral drugs.