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Serologic diagnosis of enterovirus type 71 infections using selected plaque mutants

Insights

Minute plaque mutants of enterovirus type 71 are crucial for accurate diagnosis. Antibody responses in patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease were significant to minute mutants, but poor to large plaque mutants.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Enterovirus type 71 (EV71) causes hand, foot, and mouth disease.
  • EV71 strains consist of mixed plaque size mutants (m+ and m).
  • Previous antigenic analysis of EV71 has not consistently utilized distinct plaque mutants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the antigenic relationship between different plaque size mutants of EV71.
  • To determine the optimal mutant for serologic diagnosis of EV71 infections.

Main Methods:

  • Selection of plaque size mutants (m+ and m) from American and Japanese EV71 strains.
  • Antigenic analysis using immune animal and patient sera.
  • Evaluation of antibody responses to different mutants in patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Main Results:

  • All four EV71 strains contained both m+ (big) and m (minute) plaque mutants.
  • These mutants exhibited serological differences.
  • Patients showed significant antibody responses to m mutants but poor or absent responses to m+ mutants.
  • No antibody was detected when using strains containing m+ mutants.

Conclusions:

  • Selected m+ and m mutants are essential for accurate identification and antigenic analysis of EV71 isolates.
  • The selected m mutant is superior for serologic diagnosis of enterovirus type 71 infection.

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