Enteroviruses

Enteroviruses are the most common viruses in man. They cause various kinds of diseases ranging from common-cold type illness to severe life-threatening infections. The three polioviruses belong to the group of enteroviruses, and effective vaccines have long been used for prevention of polio paralysis. Enterovirus 71 causes hand, foot and mouth disease as well as severe infections in the central nervous system. Vaccines against this virus have also shown excellent results in human Phase III trials.

Since enterovirus vaccines are effective and safe, it is possible to develop new enterovirus vaccines to prevent enteroviruses diseases including common cold, hand, foot and mouth disease, myocarditis, otitis media, central nervous system infections, pancreatitis, paralysis and severe systemic infections in newborn infants. In addition, enteroviruses can cause chronic diseases such as chronic heart diseases and Type 1 Diabetes, which could be preventable by such vaccines.