Efficient Blocking of Enterovirus 71 Infection by Heparan Sulfate Analogues Acting as Decoy Receptors

Enterovirus 71 (EV71)
is a major etiological agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease, for
which there is no antiviral therapy. We have developed densely sulfated
disaccharide heparan sulfate (HS) analogues that are potent small
molecule inhibitors of EV71 infection, binding to the viral capsid
and acting as decoy receptors to block early events of virus replication.
The simplified structures, more potent than defined HS disaccharides
and with no significant anticoagulant activity, offer promise as anti-EV71
agents.