Introduction: Oncolytic virotherapy is a new method of treating cancer. Various types of viruses have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells due to the high presence of specific receptors on cancer cells. In this study, our aim was to investigate the potential ability of wildtype Echovirus to suppress the proliferation of A549 cell line as human lung cancer cells.Materials and Methods: In this study, we assessed the effects of treating A549 cells with both wild-type Echovirus and doxorubicin (DXR). We focused on several key parameters including cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release rate, apoptosis percentage, as well as caspase-8 and caspase-9 activities.Results: The cytotoxic effects of wild-type Echovirus were measured on A549 cell lines in all treatment groups by MTT and apoptosis assay. The lowest and highest cytotoxic effects and apoptosis percentage were associated with the 10 and 40 MOIs of Echovirus treated groups, respectively. Additionally, Echovirus significantly increased LDH and ROS generation and the activities of caspase-8 and caspase-9 compared with the control group.Conclusions: Wild-type Echovirus has the potential to inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells and promote apoptosis through both mitochondrial and extracellular apoptotic pathways. This suggests that wild-type Echovirus could be considered as a possible therapy for human lung cancer in the future.

Background: Human enteroviruses are members of Picornaviridae family; they are non-enveloped, icosahedral viruses with positive RNA as genome. Echovirus 30 is an important member of enteroviruses that is recognized in outbreaks of enterovirus meningitis.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine relative frequency of Echovirus 30 as an important agent of aseptic meningitis among children referred to Aboozar hospital, Ahvaz, Iran.Patients and Methods: 34 cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with enterovirus aseptic meningitis, negative bacterial culture, WBC (white blood cell) count>5x106/mm3, and aseptic meningitis symptoms were entered in the study. These samples were collected in a year between May 2010 and May 2011. RNA of enteroviruses were extracted and investigated for Echovirus 30 infection with RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test. Samples also were cultured in RD (rhabdomyosarcoma) cell and positive results were approved by RT-PCR test with enterovirus specific primers. To recognize PCR-product, 440 bp RT-PCR product was sequenced and phylogenic tree was drawn based on Neighbor Joining method with 1000 replication bootstrap.Results: Echovirus 30 infection was not detected in any case. Just one CSF sample grew in RD cell culture. This sample was approved by RT-PCR and sequencing. Positive sample was recognized as coxsackie virus B3.Conclusions: There was no Echovirus 30 in Ahvaz because of diverse nature of enteroviruses and several serotypes with various distribution patterns in different geographical regions, and the fact that Echovirus 30 is mostly detected in outbreaks rather than endemism. Coxsackie virus B3 was responsible for aseptic meningitis of a child in this study. Based on another study conducted in Tehran, it seems that Coxsackie B viruses are among current agents causing enterovirus aseptic meningitis in Iran. Of course we need to conduct more studies in Ahvaz and other parts of the country to approve this hypothesis.

Background and Objectives: Human enteroviruses (EV) are the most common causes of neonatal sepsis-like disease. The frequencies of EV including coxsackievirus A, coxsackievirus B and Echovirus serotypes have been studied in young infants (younger than three months) with sepsis. So far, the role of enteroviruses among neonates with sepsis was not determined in Ahvaz, Iran. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the frequency of EV among hospitalized young infants with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis in Ahvaz. Materials and Methods: Blood specimens from 128 neonates (younger than 90 days), including 56 (43. 75%) girls and 72 (56. 25%) boys, were collected from hospitalized neonates with clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis-like symptoms. All blood samples were negative for bacterial culture. RNA was extracted from all sera and tested for detection of 5'UTR (Untranslated Region) of the EV by RT-PCR. To determine specific strains of EV, positive 5ˊ UTR samples were further tested for detection of the VP1 region of EV by RT-PCR. Results: Overall, 50/128 (39. 06%) specimens, including 24 (48%) girls and 26 (52%) boys, were positive for EV. 21/ 50 (42%) specimens were positive for the VP1 region. Randomly, 8 positive VP1 were selected and sequenced. Analysis of sequencing data showed 7/21 (33. 33%) samples were positive for Echovirus 30 and 1/21 (4. 76%) samples were positive for CVA9. Conclusion: The results of this survey indicate high prevalence of 39. 06% of EV among young neonates with sepsis. A high prevalence of 33. 3% Echoviruses 30 and a low rate of 4. 76% coxsackievirus A9 infection has been observed in neonatal patients with viral sepsis. This outbreak is probably one of the first Enterovirus outbreaks to be reported in Ahvaz, Iran. The results of this survey will help to minimize unneeded use of antimicrobial drugs and reduce unnecessary hospitalization.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the etiologic agents of a hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran and their evolutionary analysis by phylogenetic construction and Simplot analysis. Methods: We collected 16 serum samples in an outbreak of HFMD in Ahvaz in October 2013. RNA was extracted from the samples and subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of Enterovirus group A and B. Positive cases were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic and Simplot analysis for detecting the signs of recombination. Results: Of the 16 specimens, nine (56. 25%) were PCR-positive with the universal primers for the Enterovirus 5’ UTR region. Coxsackievirus A6 was detected as a predominant agent of HFMD with two cases of Echovirus 6 and Echovirus 30. In the case of Echovirus 6, the signs of recombination in the 5’ UTR region were observed based on phylogenetic and Simplot analysis. Conclusions: Coxsackievirus A6 is the main agent of HFMD in Ahvaz. The evidence of recombination in this isolate of Echovirus 6 in this study emphasizes common hygiene practices and sanitation to prevent the circulation of this isolate in community and the advent of new strains.

Background: Diarrhea is one of the most signifi cant diseases in children, causing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Diarrhea is caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. There are several viruses that can cause diarrhea, including some groups of enteroviruses that have a signifi cant role in acute diarrhea in children. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the presence of enteroviruses in the stool of children with diarrhea. Methods: We collected 85 stool samples including 50 (58. 82%) from males and 35 (41. 17%) from females with acute diarrhea. All the stool samples proved negative for bacterial and parasitic pathogens. The RNA was extracted from the stool samples and cDNA was prepared. The semi-nested PCR was carried out for the detection of the 5’-UTR region of enteroviruses. To determine the enterovirus serotypes, the sequences of semi-nested PCR product was performed using conserved primers for the 5’-UTR region. Results: Overall, 21/85 (24. 7%) patients including 12/50 (24%) males and 9/35 (25. 71%) females showed positive results for enteroviruses (P = 0. 3). Based on the results of sequencing, one of the isolated serotypes was identifi ed as coxsackievirus A6 and the other isolated serotype was Echovirus 9. Conclusions: Overall, 21/85 (24. 7%) children with acute diarrhea were infected with enteroviruses. The distribution of enteroviruses was not signifi cantly diff erent between male and female patients. The results of sequencing indicated that one of the isolated serotypes was coxsackievirus A6 and the other isolated serotype was Echovirus 9. The remaining 64/85(75. 29%) isolates were negative for enteroviruses. The role of other viral gastroenteritis agents including rotaviruses, noroviruses, calicivirus, astrovirus, and adenoviruses was not explored that needs further investigation.

Meningitis can quickly become a life-threatening sickness and therefore is considered a medical emergency. Viruses, after bacteria, are known as main pathogens involved in meningitis,therefore, we investigated the prevalence of viral meningitis worldwide and evaluated the clinical and preclinical features for rapid detection of viral meningitis. The results showed that the most prevalent viruses in viral meningitis are Enterovirus, Coxaci, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Herpesviridae family,and the most prevalent viruses in aseptic meningitis are Echovirus, Enterovirus, Coxaci and HSV. The findings revealed differences in the prevalence of various viruses in these two types of meningitis, even though there was no significant difference in clinical manifestations between viral and bacterial meningitis. This indicates the importance of laboratory diagnostic methods for discriminating between these two types of meningitis.

Integrins are a large family of adhesion molecules under cellular control that could act bilabially in different situations; on the other hand, they play a significant role in adsorption and entry of immune system cells or other helper cells. Furthermore, they could be good targets for entry, localization and replication of infectious viruses into cells. As viruses apply various strategies for entry and infiltration to cells, comparison of these ways (especially integrin mediated), elucidates effective mechanisms in the inception of viral infection and the host cells interactions. At this point, the present study reviewed the relationships between common viruses such as Adenovirus, Papillomavirus, Herpesvirus, Hantavirus, Rotavirus, Echovirus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, Coxsackievirus type 9, ParEchovirus type 1 and Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 with integrins and their viable interactions for therapeutical issues and better recognition of the commencement process of the infection by these viruses.

Background and Objectives: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a complicated clinical syndrome with a wide range of potential etiologies. Several infectious agents including different virus families have been isolated from AFP cases. In most surveys, Non-polio Enteroviruses (NPEVs) have been detected as main infectious agents in AFP cases; however, there are also some reports about Adenovirus isolation in these patients. In this study, NPEVs and Adenoviruses in stool specimens of AFP cases with or without Residual Paralysis (RP) with negative results for poliovirus are investigated. Materials and Methods: Nucleic acid extractions from 55 AFP cases were examined by nested PCR or semi-nested PCR with specific primers to identify NPEVs or Adenoviruses, respectively. VP1 (for Enteroviruses) and hexon (for Adenoviruses) gene amplification products were sequenced and compared with available sequences in the GenBank. Results: From 55 fecal (37 RP+ and 18 RP-) specimens, 7 NPEVs (12. 7%) (2 cases in RP+) and 7 Adenoviruses (12. 7%) (4 cases in RP+) were identified. Echovirus types 3, 17 and 30, Coxsackie virus A8, and Enterovirus 80 were among NPEVs and Adenoviruses type 2 and 41 were also identified. Conclusion: Our finding shows that NPEVs and Adenoviruses may be isolated from the acute flaccid paralyses but there is no association between the residual paralyses and virus detection.

Background: Medicinal plants have been traditionally used for different kinds of ailments including infectious diseases. There is an increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections with the available antiviral drugs often leads to the problem of viral resistance. There is a need to search for new and more effective antiviral agents.Objective: therefore in the present study 20 plants with ethno-medical background from different families were screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1, Adenovirus type 5, Echovirus type 11, Measles virus and Rotavirus.Methods: Different parts of the plants collected from Iran were extracted with aqueous solvents to obtain crude extracts. These extracts were screened for their cytotoxicity against Vero, BSC-1, Hep-II and RD cell lines by assays micro-culture neutral red dye absorption and microscopically follow up for CPE. Antiviral properties of the plant extracts were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay and plaque reduction assay.Results: Three plants extract; Aristolochia maurorum, Terminalia chebula Retz. and Cichorium intybus L. exhibited significant antiviral activity against HSV-1 and adenovirus type 5 at a concentration non toxic to the cell lines used. The extracts of Aristolochia maurorum and Cichorium intybus L. showed great anti viral activity against HSV-1 and partial activity against adenovirus at higher concentrations.Conclusion: Some of the medicinal plants have shown antiviral activity. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of these plants which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents.

Background and Objectives: Medicinal plants have been traditionally used for different kinds of ailments including infectious diseases. There is an increasing need for substances with antiviral activity since the treatment of viral infections with the available antiviral drugs often lead to the problem of viral resistance. There is a need to search for new and more effective antiviral agents, therefore ill the present study 25 plants with ethno-medical background from different families were screened for antiviral activity against HSV-1, Adenovirus type 5, Echovirus type 11, Measles virus and Rotavirus.Material and methods: Different parts of the plants collected from Iran were extracted with aqueous solvents to obtain crude extracts. These extracts were screened for their cytotoxicity against Vero, BSC-1, Hep-II and RD cell lines by micro-culture neutral red dye absorption and microscopically follow up for CPE.Antiviral properties of the plant extracts were determined by cytopathic effect inhibition assay and plaque reduction assay.Results: Four plants extract; Nymphea alba, Rhus coriaria L., Chelidonium majus and Terminalia chebula Retz exhibited significant antiviral activity against HSV-1 and adenovirus type 5 at non-toxic concentration. The extracts of Chelidoniummajus showed great anti viral activity against HSV-1 and partial activity against adenovirus at higher concentrations.Conclusion: Some of the medicinal plants have shown antiviral activity. Further research is needed to elucidate the active constituents of these plants which may be useful in the development of new and effective antiviral agents.