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Abstract
A common childhood affliction of viral origin in young children and immunocompromised
adults, the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) has become a significant public health
concern in the Asia-Pacific Region. Characterized by the appearance of vesiculopapular
rashes on the hands, feet and mouth, the disease is generally mild and self-limiting.
In a minority of cases, patients can develop neurological complications that could
result in permanent morbidity or even fatality. In the absence of a specific antiviral
for treatment, medical care is limited to supportive and symptomatic relief, presenting
a need for more research into an effective antiviral to be used in the management
of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of chloroquine, a FDA-approved
lysosomotropic agent, against several serotypes of HFMD-associated enteroviruses,
including EV-A71, in reducing infectious virus production. We have also evaluated
chloroquine in a murine model of EV-A71 infection to ascertain its antiviral efficacy
in vivo. The results suggest that chloroquine could be a broad-acting antiviral effective
against HFMD-associated enteroviruses.