Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Viral Tracing of Genetically Defined Neural Circuitry
13:06

Viral Tracing of Genetically Defined Neural Circuitry

Published on: October 17, 2012

18.8K

Enterovirus-A71 exploits peripherin and Rac1 to invade the central nervous system

Ze Qin Lim1,2, Qing Yong Ng1,2, Yukei Oo1,2

  • 1Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

EMBO Reports
|April 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Enterovirus-A71 (EV-A71) uses peripherin (PRPH) to invade the central nervous system, unlike other hand, foot, and mouth disease viruses. Targeting PRPH interactions, like with Rac1, may block EV-A71 neuroinvasion.

Area of Science:

  • Neurovirology
  • Molecular Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Enterovirus-A71 (EV-A71) causes severe neurological hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).
  • EV-A71 invades the central nervous system (CNS) via motor neuron infection at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs).
  • Peripherin (PRPH), a type III intermediate neurofilament, is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of peripherin (PRPH) in EV-A71 infection and neuroinvasion.
  • To determine if PRPH is a unique factor exploited by EV-A71 for CNS entry.
  • To identify potential host targets for limiting EV-A71 neuroinvasion.

Main Methods:

  • Co-localization studies of PRPH and EV-A71 in infected mice (NMJs, spinal cord).
  • Cell-based assays using motor neuron and neuroblastoma cell lines to assess PRPH's role in viral entry and replication.
  • Comparative infection studies with coxsackievirus A16.
  • Identification and analysis of PRPH-interacting viral and host factors.

Main Results:

  • PRPH co-localizes with EV-A71 in mouse NMJs and spinal cord.
  • Surface PRPH facilitates EV-A71 entry; intracellular PRPH aids viral genome replication.
  • PRPH is not essential for coxsackievirus A16 infection, highlighting EV-A71's specific exploitation.
  • EV-A71 interacts with PRPH partners, including Rac1, a potential druggable target.

Conclusions:

  • Peripherin is a key host factor exploited by EV-A71 for neuroinvasion.
  • EV-A71's unique ability to utilize PRPH contributes to its neurological pathogenicity.
  • Targeting PRPH-interacting proteins, such as Rac1, offers a potential therapeutic strategy against EV-A71 neuroinvasion.
Keywords:
Enterovirus-A71Rac 1and mouth diseasefoothandneurotropismperipherin

More Related Videos

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

20.0K
Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses09:07

Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses

Published on: June 14, 2020

11.2K

Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...
3.1K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
13.3K
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
5.7K
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
48.2K
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
5.7K
Nervous System01:21

Nervous System

The nervous system coordinates body functions through its complex network of nerve cells, enabling sensation and movement. It is divided into two primary parts: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain acts as the body's control center, processing sensory information and coordinating responses. The spinal cord functions as a major signaling pathway for the brain and the rest of the body.
2.8K