Recombinant Echovirus E2 VP2 Protein [His]

Echovirus is an important cause of viral pneumonia and encephalitis in infants, neonates, and young children worldwide. However, the exact mechanism of its pathogenesis is still not well understood. Here, we established an echovirus type 9 infection mice model, and performed two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)-based comparative proteomics analysis to investigate the differentially expressed host proteins in mice brain. A total of 21 differentially expressed proteins were identified by MS/MS. The annotation of the differentially expressed proteins by function using the UniProt and GO databases identified one viral protein (5%), seven cytoskeletal proteins (33%), six macromolecular biosynthesis and metabolism proteins (28%), two stress response and chaperone binding proteins (9%), and five other cellular proteins (25%). The subcellular locations of these proteins were mainly found in the cytoskeleton, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, and Golgi apparatus. The protein expression profiles and the results of quantitative RT-PCR in the detection of gene transcripts were found to complement each other. The differential protein interaction network was predicted using the STRING database. Of the identified proteins, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), showing consistent results in the proteomics and transcriptomic analyses, was analyzed through Western blotting to verify the reliability of differential protein expression data in this study. Further, evaluation of the function of Hsp70 using siRNA and quercetin, an inhibitor of Hsp70, showed that Hsp70 was necessary for the infection of echovirus type 9. This study revealed that echovirus infection could cause the differential expression of a series of host proteins, which is helpful to reveal the pathogenesis of viral infection and identify therapeutic drug targets. Additionally, our results suggest that Hsp70 could be a useful therapeutic host protein target for echovirus infection.

Eruptive pseudoangiomatosis is a distinct exanthem thought to be caused by viruses. The usual rash configu-ration is erythematous papules and macules. An association with echovirus infection has been reported. We present here one adult and one child with this exanthem, supported by clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings. Both patients presented with prodromal symptoms, widespread angioma-like macules in annular configuration, blanchable telangiectasia, followed by spontaneous remission in 6-8 weeks. Lesional histopathology of the adult patient revealed dilated dermal blood vessels and lymphohistiocytic infiltrates predominated by CD4(+) lymphocytes with a 5:1 ratio of CD4:CD8 lymphocytes. No B cells or CD56(+) natural killer cells were found. Serology of both patients revealed evidence of active infections by adenoviruses, and a range of other viruses were excluded. We believe that these 2 patients manifested annular eruptive pseudoangio-matosis, a novel variant of the rash with a probable adenovirus association that has not yet been reported.