Genetics of coxsackievirus B3 cardiovirulence.

The human enteroviruses, especially the coxsackie B viruses, have been established as aetiologic agents of human inflammatory heart disease, a condition which may lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. It is clear from murine models of coxsackievirus B3-induced inflammatory heart disease that not all strains of the virus are cardiovirulent (able to cause disease). Here, we present preliminary data mapping the site in a coxsackievirus B3 genome which determines a cardiovirulent phenotype.