EV71 VP1

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a member of the enterovirus genus of the picornaviradae family. EV71 infection may cause severe hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) associated with neurological complications, such as encephalitis, neurogenic pulmonary edema. Cell cultures-derived EV71 exists in two icosahedral particle forms, one is the non-infectious empty particle (termed E-particle or procapsid) consisting of 60 copies of VP0, VP1 and VP3 proteins but lacking the viral genome, and the other is the infectious mature virion (termed F-particle) bearing the RNA genome and VP1, VP3, VP2 and VP4 proteins (the latter two result from cleavage of VP0). There is a surface depression called "canyon" around the 5-fold-related plateaus of both E- and F-particles. Viral receptors bind the canyons of some enteroviruses such as poliovirus to trigger virus uncoating during infection. Several molecules have been identified as the cellular receptors for EV71, such as the scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB-2), p-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and heparin sulfate glycosaminoglycan. However, the receptor binding sites on EV71 virions have not been determined by structural analysis.