Dear Colleagues,

Enteroviruses were initially isolated from patients suffering from acute diseases, including poliomyelitis. Isolation of these viruses in cell culture allowed to investigate the cytopathic effect, to evaluate the kinetics of virus growth, to explore virus tropism. These studies opened new fields in medicine. Immunological typing, and antibody neutralization in vivo and in vitro paved the way to the prevention of poliomyelitis by inactivated and attenuated vaccines. Experimental pathology and clinical observations attributed an etiological role to these agents in great variety of clinical conditions. More recently, attention was brought to chronic neurological, cardiovascular and endocrine disorders. Studies demonstrated that enteroviral capsid proteins and genome may be found in a variety of organs during persistent infection. Research also showed that persistent enterovirus strains do not easily grow in cell culture. Progress in the molecular biology of enteroviruses and recognition of a variety of cell receptors led to advanced taxonomy and to the development of sensitive diagnostic methods. Direct virus detection and measurements of infection markers (antibodies) sparked the hypothesis that these agents could have a pathogenic role in chronic myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, type 1 diabetes mellitus, chronic neurologic disorders such as the post-polio syndrome. Currently, immunologic tools, vaccines and antivirals are being developed for diagnosis, prevention and cure. Clearly this an important and growing topic that deserves a Special Issue in Microorganisms.

Prof. Dr. Didier Hober
Prof. Dr. Antonio Toniolo
Guest Editors

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• viral particles
• infectious particles
• VP1 capsid protein
• enteroviral RNA
• persistent infection
• chronic disease