Hijacking the Host Cell for Replication: Pro-Viral Host Factors Involved in EVA71 Infection.

Enterovirus A71 (EVA71) is a major pathogen that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Although the symptoms of HFMD can be self-limiting, severe meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, and acute flaccid paralysis may occur. Upon EVA71 infection, the host cells deploy an intricate network of factors to orchestrate cellular responses and maintain cellular homeostasis. However, the virus has evolved various strategies to avoid unfavorable host restrictions and to establish a productive infection process. As response regimens are correlated with disease symptoms, exploring the interactions between the virus and host contributes to understanding the pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms of infection. In this review, we summarized the recent research progress related to pro-viral factors during EVA71 infection and discussed the underlying mechanisms employed by EVA71 to facilitate virion production. These insights may help identify antiviral therapeutic candidates and support vaccine development.