Enterovirus 71 (EV71), which belongs to the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae, is one of the major pathogens that cause hand, foot and mouth disease, primarily in infants and young children. In recent years, epidemic and sporadic outbreaks of neurovirulent EV71 infections have been reported in many countries and regions, including Japan, China and Taiwan 1. However, there is still no effective antiviral treatment against severe EV71 infections, and no vaccine is available.

During their life cycle, viruses can induce many changes in their host cells including increased plasma membrane permeability 2. Although its detailed mechanism remains largely unknown, this effect on the plasma membrane could be due to the expression of many virus-encoded proteins 3, 4, 5. The expression of protein 2B from polioviruses and coxsackieviruses can increase the permeability of the cell membrane to the translational inhibitor hygromycin B 6, 7. A recent study that focused on protein 2B from coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) showed that 2B can facilitate virus release by increasing the concentration of free cytosolic Ca2+ 8. However, little is known about 2B proteins from other enteroviruses, and the detailed mechanisms of how 2B changes cellular ion homeostasis and, thus, promotes virion release remain unclear.

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