Genetic diversity and C2-like subgenogroup strains of enterovirus 71, Taiwan, 2008.
BACKGROUND
Human enterovirus 71 (EV-71) is known of having caused numerous outbreaks of hand-foot-mouth disease, and other clinical manifestations globally. In 2008, 989 EV-71 strains were isolated in Taiwan.


RESULTS
In this study, the genetic and antigenic properties of these strains were analyzed and the genetic diversity of EV-71 subgenogroups surfacing in Taiwan was depicted, which includes 3 previously reported subgenogroups of C5, B5, and C4, and one C2-like subgenogroup. Based on the phylogenetic analyses using their complete genome nucleotide sequences and neutralization tests, the C2-like subgenogroup forms a genetically distinct cluster from other subgenogroups, and the antisera show a maximum of 128-fold decrease of neutralization titer against this subgenogroup. In addition, the subgenogroup C4 isolates of 2008 were found quite similar genetically to the Chinese strains that caused outbreaks in recent years and thus they should be carefully watched.


CONCLUSIONS
Other than to be the first report describing the existence of C2-like subgenogroup of EV-71 in Taiwan, this article also foresees a potential of subgenogroup C4 outbreaks in Taiwan in the near future.
Research and Diagnostic Center, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Yuan-Pin
YP
Huang
Tsuey-Li
TL
Lin
Li-Ching
LC
Hsu
Yu-Ju
YJ
Chen
Yin-Hsin
YH
Tseng
Chiu-Chu
CC
Hsu
Wen-Bin
WB
Fan
Jyh-Yuan
JY
Yang
Feng-Yee
FY
Chang
Ho-Sheng
HS
Wu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D029821:Enterovirus A, Human / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral