Displaying all 11 publications

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  1. Lum LC, Wong KT, Lam SK, Chua KB, Goh AY, Lim WL, et al.
    J Pediatr, 1998 Dec;133(6):795-8.
    PMID: 9842048
    During an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71 (EV-71) in 1997, 4 children presented with sudden cardiopulmonary collapse and minimal neurologic features. All children received cardiopulmonary resuscitation but died within a few hours of admission. Postmortem studies showed infection by EV-71 with extensive damage to the medulla and pons. We postulate an etiologic link between EV-71 and brainstem encephalomyelitis as the cause of pulmonary edema and death.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  2. Lum LC, Wong KT, Lam SK, Chua KB, Goh AY
    Lancet, 2000 Jan 08;355(9198):146-7.
    PMID: 10675193
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  3. Lum LC, Wong KT, Lam SK, Chua KB, Goh AY
    Lancet, 1998 Oct 24;352(9137):1391.
    PMID: 9802304
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  4. AbuBakar S, Chee HY, Al-Kobaisi MF, Xiaoshan J, Chua KB, Lam SK
    Virus Res, 1999 May;61(1):1-9.
    PMID: 10426204
    Thirteen enterovirus 71 (EV71) isolates were obtained from both fatal and non-fatal infections of patients seen in Peninsula Malaysia and in Sarawak during an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Malaysia in 1997, with incidences of fatal brainstem encephalomyelitis. The isolates were identified using immunofluorescence staining, neutralization assays, and partial sequencing of the 5' untranslated regions (UTR). Assessment of the potential genetic relationships of the isolates using the partial 5'UTR sequences suggested clustering of the isolates into at least two main clusters. Isolates from Peninsula Malaysia were found in both clusters whereas Sarawak-derived isolates clustered only in cluster II. Isolates derived from fatal infections, however, occurred in both clusters and no distinctive nucleotide sequences could be attributed to the fatal isolates. Examination of the nucleotide sequences revealed at least 13 nucleotide positions in all the isolates which differ completely from the previously reported EV71 5'UTR sequences. In addition, at least 11 nucleotide position differences within the 5'UTR were noted which differentiated cluster I from cluster II. Predicted secondary RNA structures drawn using the nucleotide sequences also suggested differences between isolates from the two clusters. These findings suggest the presence of at least two potentially virulent EV71 co-circulating in Malaysia during the 1997 HFMD outbreak.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  5. Yogarajah T, Ong KC, Perera D, Wong KT
    Sci Rep, 2017 07 19;7(1):5845.
    PMID: 28724943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05589-2
    Encephalomyelitis is a well-known complication of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) due to Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. Viral RNA/antigens could be detected in the central nervous system (CNS) neurons in fatal encephalomyelitis but the mechanisms of neuronal cell death is not clearly understood. We investigated the role of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome in neuronal cell death, and its relationship to viral replication. Our transcriptomic analysis, RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies consistently showed AIM2 gene up-regulation and protein expression in EV-A71-infected SK-N-SH cells. Downstream AIM2-induced genes, CARD16, caspase-1 and IL-1β were also up-regulated and caspase-1 was activated to form cleaved caspase-1 p20 subunits. As evidenced by 7-AAD positivity, pyroptosis was confirmed in infected cells. Overall, these findings have a strong correlation with decreases in viral titers, copy numbers and proteins, and reduced proportions of infected cells. AIM2 and viral antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry in infected neurons in inflamed areas of the CNS in EV-A71 encephalomyelitis. In infected AIM2-knockdown cells, AIM2 and related downstream gene expressions, and pyroptosis were suppressed, resulting in significantly increased virus infection. These results support the notion that AIM2 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis is an important mechanism of neuronal cell death and it could play an important role in limiting EV-A71 replication.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology
  6. Ong KC, Badmanathan M, Devi S, Leong KL, Cardosa MJ, Wong KT
    J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 2008 Jun;67(6):532-42.
    PMID: 18520772 DOI: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e31817713e7
    We describe a model of Enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis in 2-week-old mice that shares many features with the human central nervous system (CNS) disease. Mice were infected via oral and parenteral routes with a murine-adapted virus strain originally from a fatal human case. The mice succumbed to infection after 2 to 5 days. Vacuolated and normal-appearing CNS neurons showed viral RNA and antigens and virions by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy; inflammation was minimal. The most numerous infected neurons were in anterior horns, motor trigeminal nuclei, and brainstem reticular formation; fewer neurons in the red nucleus, lateral cerebellar nucleus, other cranial nerve nuclei, motor cortex, hypothalamus, and thalamus were infected. Other CNS regions, dorsal root, and autonomic ganglia were spared. Intramuscular-inoculated mice killed 24 to 36 hours postinfection had viral RNA and antigens in ipsilateral lumbar anterior horn cells and adjacent axons. Upper cord motor neurons, brainstem, and contralateral motor cortex neurons were infected from 48-72 hours. Viral RNA and antigens were abundant in skeletal muscle and adjacent tissues but not in other organs. The distinct, stereotypic viral distribution in this model suggests that the virus enters the CNS via peripheral motor nerves after skeletal muscle infection, and spread within the CNS involves motor and other neural pathways. This model may be useful for further studies on pathogenesis and for testing therapies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  7. Tan SH, Ong KC, Perera D, Wong KT
    Antiviral Res, 2016 Aug;132:196-203.
    PMID: 27340013 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.04.015
    BACKGROUND: Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) encephalomyelitis is an often fatal disease for which there is no specific treatment available. Passive immunization with a specific monoclonal antibody to EV-A71 was used on a murine model of EV-A71 encephalomyelitis to evaluate its therapeutic effectiveness before and after established central nervous system (CNS) infection.

    METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneally-infected with a mouse-adapted EV-A71 strain and treated with a dose of monoclonal antibody (MAb) daily for 3 days on day 1, 2 and 3 post-infection or for 3 days on 3, 4 and 5 post-infection. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated by signs of infection and survival rate. Histopathology and qPCR analyses were performed on mice sacrificed a day after completing treatment.

    RESULTS: In mock-treated mice, CNS infection was established from day 3 post-infection. All mice treated before established CNS infection, survived and recovered completely without CNS infection. All mice treated after established CNS infection survived with mild paralysis, and viral load and antigens/RNA at day 6 post-infection were significantly reduced.

    CONCLUSIONS: Passive immunization with our MAb could prevent CNS infection in mice if given early before the establishment of CNS infection. It could also ameliorate established CNS infection if optimal and repeated doses were given.

    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  8. Lum LC, Chua KB, McMinn PC, Goh AY, Muridan R, Sarji SA, et al.
    J Clin Virol, 2002 Jan;23(3):153-60.
    PMID: 11595594
    Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is endemic in Malaysia. In 1997, a large outbreak of enterovirus 71 (EV-71) associated HFMD resulted in 41 deaths due to severe left ventricular dysfunction and central nervous system infection with extensive damage to the medulla and pons. The clinical presentation in all these patients were rapid cardio-respiratory decompensation leading to cardiac arrest. Another large outbreak of HFMD with 55 fatal cases and a similar clinical picture was reported in Taiwan in 1998. In 2000, an outbreak of HFMD resulted in the deaths of three children who had rapid cardio-respiratory decompensation and one child who survived a central nervous system infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  9. Hooi YT, Ong KC, Tan SH, Perera D, Wong KT
    Lab Invest, 2020 Sep;100(9):1262-1275.
    PMID: 32601355 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-0456-x
    Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) is one of the major causes of mild and self-limiting hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in young children, which may occasionally leads to serious neurological complications. In this study, we had developed a novel, consistent, orally infected CV-A16 HFMD hamster model with encephalomyelitis. Four groups of 7-day-old hamsters in a kinetic study were orally infected with mouse-adapted CV-A16 strains and sacrificed at 1-4 days post infection (dpi), respectively. Tissues were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry to detect viral antigens, in situ hybridization to detect viral RNA, and by viral titration. In a separate transmission experiment, orally infected index hamsters were housed together with contact hamsters to investigate oral and fecal viral shedding by virus culture and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At severe infection/death endpoints, index and contact hamster infection were also histopathologically analyzed. In the kinetic study, infected hamsters developed signs of infection at 4 dpi. Viral antigens/RNA were localized to brainstem (medulla/pons; reticular formation and motor trigeminal nucleus) and spinal cord anterior horn neurons, oral squamous epithelia and epidermis from 3 to 4 dpi. Salivary and lacrimal glands, myocardium, brown adipose tissue, intestinal smooth muscle, and skeletal muscle infection was also demonstrated. Viremia at 1 dpi and increasing viral titers in various tissues were observed from 2 dpi. In the transmission study, all contact hamsters developed disease 3-5 days later than index hamsters, but demonstrated similar histopathological findings at endpoint. Viral culture and RT-PCR positive oral washes and feces confirmed viral shedding. Our hamster model, orally infected by the natural route for human infection, confirmed CV-A16 neurotropism and demonstrated squamous epitheliotropism reminiscent of HFMD, attributes not found in other animal models. It should be useful to investigate neuropathogenesis, model person-to-person transmission, and for testing antiviral drugs and vaccines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  10. He Y, Ong KC, Gao Z, Zhao X, Anderson VM, McNutt MA, et al.
    Am J Pathol, 2014 Mar;184(3):714-20.
    PMID: 24378407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.11.009
    Enterovirus 71 (EV71; family Picornaviridae, species human Enterovirus A) usually causes hand, foot, and mouth disease, which may rarely be complicated by fatal encephalomyelitis. We investigated extra-central nervous system (extra-CNS) tissues capable of supporting EV71 infection and replication, and have correlated tissue infection with expression of putative viral entry receptors, scavenger receptor B2 (SCARB2), and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1). Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded CNS and extra-CNS tissues from seven autopsy cases were examined by IHC and in situ hybridization to evaluate viral antigens and RNA. Viral receptors were identified with IHC. In all seven cases, the CNS showed stereotypical distribution of inflammation and neuronal localization of viral antigens and RNA, confirming the clinical diagnosis of EV71 encephalomyelitis. In six cases in which tonsillar tissues were available, viral antigens and/or RNA were localized to squamous epithelium lining the tonsillar crypts. Tissues from the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, mesenteric nodes, spleen, and skin were all negative for viral antigens/RNA. Our novel findings strongly suggest that tonsillar crypt squamous epithelium supports active viral replication and represents an important source of viral shedding that facilitates person-to-person transmission by both the fecal-oral or oral-oral routes. It may also be a portal for viral entry. A correlation between viral infection and SCARB2 expression appears to be more significant than for PSGL-1 expression.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
  11. Phyu WK, Ong KC, Wong KT
    Emerg Microbes Infect, 2017 Jul 12;6(7):e62.
    PMID: 28698666 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.49
    Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), which may be complicated by fatal encephalomyelitis. Although fecal-oral or oral-oral routes are important in person-to-person transmission, how viral shedding and exposure may predispose individuals to infection remains unknown. We investigated person-to-person transmission by using a model of HFMD and encephalomyelitis based on EV-A71 oral infection of 2-week-old hamsters. Animals (index animals) infected with 104 50% cell culture infective doses of virus uniformly developed severe disease four days post-infection (dpi), whereas littermate contacts developed severe disease after six to seven days of exposure to index animals. Virus was detected in oral washes and feces at 3-4 dpi in index animals and at three to eight days after exposure to index animals in littermate contact animals. In a second experiment, non-littermate contact animals exposed for 8 or 12 h to index animals developed the disease six and four days post-exposure, respectively. Tissues from killed index and contact animals, studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, exhibited mild inflammatory lesions and/or viral antigens/RNA in the squamous epithelia of the oral cavity, tongue, paws, skin, esophagus, gastric epithelium, salivary glands, lacrimal glands, central nervous system neurons, muscles (skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles) and liver. Orally shed viruses were probably derived from infected oral mucosa and salivary glands, whereas fecal viruses may have derived from these sites as well as from esophageal and gastric epithelia. Asymptomatic seroconversion in exposed mother hamsters was demonstrated. Our hamster model should be useful in studying person-to-person EV-A71 transmission and how drugs and vaccines may interrupt transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Encephalomyelitis/virology*
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