Objective: To develop RT-nPCR assays for amplifying partial and complete VP1 genes of human enteroviruses (HEVs) from clinical samples and to contribute to etiological surveillance of HEV-related diseases. Methods: A panel of RT-nPCR assays, consisting of published combined primer pairs for VP1 genes of HEV A-C and in-house designed primers for HEV-D, was established in this study. The sensitivity of each RT-nPCR assay was evaluated with serially diluted virus stocks of five serotypes expressed as CCID Results: The sensitivity of RT-nPCR assays for amplifying partial VP1 gene of HEVs was 0.1 CCID Conclusion This RT-nPCR system is capable of amplifying the partial and complete VP1 gene of HEV A-D, providing rapid, sensitive, and reliable options for molecular typing and molecular epidemiology of HEVs in clinical specimens.
Capsid Proteins/genetics* ; Enterovirus A, Human/genetics* ; Enterovirus B, Human/genetics* ; Enterovirus C, Human/genetics* ; Enterovirus D, Human/genetics* ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology/methods* ; Molecular Typing/methods* ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*

BACKGROUNDExtracellular matrix (ECM) orchestrates cell behaviour including growth, death, apoptosis, adhesion, migration, and invasion by activating several signalling pathways. Certain components of ECM, such as integrins, may act as receptors or co-receptors of enterovirus. ECM-activated gene expressions in myocardium of viral heart disease including myocarditis and partial cardiomyopathy remain elusive. This study was to investigate the expression of ECM-activated genes in myocardium of mouse with viral myocarditis.

METHODSBALB/c mice were infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) to establish an animal model of myocarditis. Uninfected mice were also prepared and served as controls. Specific mRNA expression pattern in myocarditic mouse heart was analysed by an in-house cDNA microarray containing 8,192 genes. Overexpressed ECM genes were selected and subsequently confirmed by Northern blot analysis.

RESULTSNine ECM genes were isolated, from the array of 8,192 genes, as overexpressed genes in hearts of myocarditic mice in comparison with controls. Subsequent Northern blot analysis confirmed that four of the nine genes were highly expressed. Expression of these four genes, Fin15, ILk, Lamr1 and ADAMTS-1, has not been reported previously to be induced by Coxsackie virus.

CONCLUSIONCVB3-induced myocarditis is associated with gene expression profiles of certain ECM components.

Animals ; Blotting, Northern ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Human Enterovirus C group (HEV-C) includes 17 serotypes, which can not be serotype-identified by neutralization test using antiserum pool for NPEV. In order to elucidate the genotypes and molecular evolution of HEV-C in Shandong Province, We selected the strains isolated from AFP cases between 1994-2009 to perform reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) by the primers specific for entire VP1 coding gene of HEV-C and sequencing. The phylogenetic tree was then constructed among these VP1 nucleotide sequences and other prototype strains. Totally 12 Shandong local strains were obtained and separated into 4 genotypes, CVA20, CVA21,CVA24 and EV 96. The homologous comparison and phylogenetic analysis showed Shandong strains were distinct from prototype strains in each genotype. This report showed that different genotype HEV-C strains spread widely in Shandong Province.
Cell Line ; China ; Enterovirus C, Human ; classification ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

In 2007, an outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) occurred in Beijing. In order to identify the etiology of this outbreak, 57 eye conjunctival swabs were collected from 57 outpatient patients, and detected for adenovirus, human enterovirus 70 (HEV70) and Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) genes by using RT-PCR or PCR methods. The results showed that 38 were positive for CVA24v, the positive rate was 66.7%, but none was positive for HEV70 and adenovirus, showing that this outbreak was caused by CVA24v. 9 viral isolates were obtained from 57 clinical specimens by using viral isolation method, and all were identified as CVA24v by molecular typing method. All 9 CVA24v isolates were performed by VP1 sequencing, the results showed that except for strain 0744/BJ/CHN/2007, the variability at nucleotide acid level and amino acid level among other 8 CVA24v were relatively low, and the homologies were more than 99.6% and 100.0%, respectively; the homologies of nucleotide acid and amino acid between strain 0744/BJ/CHN/2007 and other 8 CVA24v were 96.8%-97.2% and 99.7%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of 9 CVA24v revealed that they represented the Clade 4 and Clade 5 in Group I, showed that this outbreak was caused by at least 2 viral transmission chains. Comparing to 3C region of CVA24v frequently used before, VP1 region was considered as the most rigorous target for molecular epidemiology study of CVA24v. To enhance the research of sero-epidemiology and molecular epidemiology of CVA24v and to know the genetic characterizations and molecular evolution of CVA24v are most important to prevent and control the outbreaks of AHC in China.
China ; epidemiology ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; epidemiology ; virology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enterovirus C, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role and significance of cardiac mast cells and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the development and progression of viral myocarditis (VMC).

METHODSForty-eight Balb/c mice were randomly divided into a control group (n=24) and a model group (n=24). Coxsackievirus B3 was intraperitoneally injected into the model group mice to establish a VMC model. In each group, cardiac tissues were collected from 8 mice at 7, 14 and 28 days after the model was established. The cardiac tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin as well as Masson trichrome to observe pathological changes in cardiac tissues. The number and degranulation of cardiac mast cells at each time point were measured and evaluated by toluidine blue staining and transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA and protein expression of TLR4 in cardiac tissues was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. In the model group, the correlation between number of cardiac mast cells and mRNA expression of TLR4 at all time points was analyzed.

RESULTSThe model group had significantly higher pathological scores of cardiac tissues than the control group at all time points (P<0.05). The myocardial collagen volume fraction in the model group at 28 days was significantly higher than in the control group at all time points and higher than in the model group at 7 and 14 days (P<0.05). At each time point, the model group had a significantly increased number of mast cells (P<0.05), and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of TLR4 (P<0.05) compared with the control group. In the model group, the number of cardiac mast cells was positively correlated with the mRNA expression of TLR4 at all time points (R²=0.877, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMice with VMC have significantly increased numbers of cardiac mast cells and expression of TLR4 compared with control mice at all time points, suggesting that mast cells and TLR4 may play important roles in the inflammatory response and fibrosis of VMC.

Animals ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; immunology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Female ; Mast Cells ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; immunology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; pathology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology

To evaluate the effects of lentivirus-delivered short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on CVB3 infection in an animal model by RNA interference technique, we constructed a recombinant lentivirus expressing shRNA-3753 against the viral genome region 3753-3771, then transduced Lenti-sh3753 into mice infected with CVB3. We evaluated the antiviral ability of lenti-sh3753 by cytopathic effect (CPE), viral plaque assay and histological analysis of mice hearts. The results showed that Lenti-sh3753 exhibited a significant protective effect on cell viability and reduction of viral titers in supernatant of cell culture by specific inhibition on viral replication. Lenti-sh3753 also prolonged the mice survival and limited the viral production in mice hearts. These data proposed that Lenti-sh3753 can effectively inhibit CVB3 infection in a coxsackievirus-induced myocarditis model, suggesting its potential role in prevention and therapy of viral diseases.
Animals ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; virology ; Down-Regulation ; Enterovirus B, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of osteopontin (OPN) in viral myocarditis by observing the expression of OPN and collagen I (Col I) in mice myocardium. METHODS: The viral myocarditis models were achieved by infection with myocarditic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). The myocardium of mice was stained by HE and Masson staining, and the pathological scores and the collagen volume fraction (CVF )of myocardium were tabulated. The expression of Col I mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. The expression of OPN was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. RESULTS: The histopathological examination revealed a prevalence of myocardial cell necrosis and obvious inflammation changes at the 7th day post-infection. Subsequently the inflammatory lesions were gradually absorbed. At the 28th day, the inflammatory cells had almost disappeared and obvious fibrosis occurred. The pathological scores and the expression of OPN mRNA were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), and reached the highest level at the 7th day (P<0.05). From the 14th day, these parameters decreased,reflected also in the ELISA results. At the 7th day and the 14th day, the Col I expression was similar to that of control. Col I expression at the 21th and 28th days was higher than those of the control (P<0.05), and correlated positively to the CVF results. CONCLUSION The OPN mRNA expression increased in acute stage of VMC, and higher than that of the control group when in recovery stage, suggesting that OPN might be related to the inflammatory response in acute stage of, and promote the collagen synthesis of recovery stage.
Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; metabolism ; Enterovirus B, Human ; isolation & purification ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; virology ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

To identify the pathogen of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in Shandong Province in 2010, eye mucous swab samples were collected from 26 patients in Qingdao and Linyi City. Real time-PCR assays for EV70, CVA24 and Adenovirus were performed on these samples. The result showed 17 samples (65.39%) were CVA24 positive while all the samples for HEV70 and Adenovirus detection were negative, which implied that CVA24 was the causative pathogen of this outbreak. A total of 10 virus strains isolated on Hep-2 cells were identified as CVA24 through VP1 amplification and nucleotide sequence analysis. The nucleotide and amino acid homologies on VP1 region among these isolates were 99.3%-100.0% and 99.5%-100.0%, respectively, and the strains aggregated together to one clade in phylogenetic tree. These results showed that the CVA24 circulating in Qingdao and Linyi City belonged to one transmission chain. Shandong CVA24s segregated into 5 different clades, and great nucleotide divergence was observed be tween AHC isolates and others.
Amino Acid Sequence ; China ; epidemiology ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; epidemiology ; virology ; Enterovirus C, Human ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the evolution of viral myocarditis (VMC) into dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODSA mouse model of VMC was established in 100 male Balb/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of coxsackievirus B3. The expression of IL-17 protein in the cardiac tissue of the mice was detected immunohistochemically, and IL-17 mRNA in the splenocytes was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). IL-17 levels in the plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatants, and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBMC culture supernatants were measured in 30 DCM patients, 26 non-DCM patients and 20 normal adults using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and IL-17 mRNA expression in the PBMCs was detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-17 mRNA in the splenocytes of the mice with VMC were significantly higher at 4 and 6 weeks than those at 8 weeks (P<0.01), but not detected at 2 weeks. No IL-17 expression was found in the ventricular tissue of the mice at 2 weeks, but peaked at 4 weeks followed by gradual decrease (P<0.01). IL-17 level in PHA-stimulated PBMC culture supernatants but not the plasma, and its mRNA level in PHA-stimulated PBMCs but not the PBMC culture supernatants, were significantly elevated in DCM patients as compared with those in non-DCM patients and normal control subjects.

CONCLUSIONSThe mouse model of VMC in the chronic phase and DCM patients express high levels of IL-17, which may contribute to the transition from VMC to DCM.

Adult ; Animals ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; complications ; metabolism ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; complications ; metabolism ; virology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

To identify the cause of an outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in Jiangxi (China) in 2010, 20 eye conjunctival swabs were first collected from AHC patients. Then, viruses were isola- ted and tested for human enterovirus 70, coxsackievirus A24 variant (CV-A24v) and adenovirus using the polymerase chain reaction. All CV-A24v isolates underwent sequencing of 3C and VP1 coding regions. Then, a phylogenetic tree was constructed for Jiangxi CV-A24v and worldwide CV-A24v based on,3C and VP1 regions, respectively. Ten out of 20 specimens were positive for CV-A24v, implying that the outbreak was caused by CV-A24v. The phylogenetic tree based on the 3C region showed that Jiangxi CV- A24v belonged to cluster 5 in genotype IV (GIV-C5) with strains isolated throughout the world after 2010, and were divided further into A and B lineages. Phylogenetic analyses of the VP1 region showed that all of the worldwide CV-A24v strains isolated after 2000 could be divided into five groups (1-5). Jiangxi CV-A24v was classified into group 5 and also divided further into A and B lineages upon analyses of the 3C region. These data suggested that CV-A24v causing AHC outbreaks in China in 2010 belonged to GIV-C3 and GIV-C5. At least two transmission lineages were circulated in Jiangxi in 2010. The classification of CV-A24v isolated after 2010 worldwide using the phylogenetic tree based on the VP1 region was almost consistent with that based on the 3C region and also had significant chronological clustering.
China ; epidemiology ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; epidemiology ; virology ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enterovirus C, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Viral Proteins ; genetics