Group B coxsackievirus virulence

Abstract

That which is understood of virulence phenotypes in the picornaviruses derives in large part from studies of artificially attenuating phenotypes rather than through examination of naturally occurring virus strains. The CVB replicate well in a variety of different murine and human cell cultures, making them excellent viruses with which to engage the problem of how the host environment interacts with specific viral genetics to promote varying efficiencies of viral replication. It is not known how highly virulent CVB strains may arise but evidence suggests such strains are not the norm. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.