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The exploration of magnetism in two-dimensional layered materials has attracted extensive research interest. For the monoclinic phase CrI3 with interlayer antiferromagnetism, finding a static and robust way of realizing the intrinsic interlayer ferromagnetic coupling is desirable. In this Letter, we study the electronic structure and magnetic properties of the nonmagnetic element (e.g., O, S, Se, N, P, As and C) doped bi- and triple-layer CrI3 systems via first-principles calculations. Our results demonstrate that O, P, S, As, and Se doped CrI3 bilayer can realize interlayer ferromagnetism. Further analysis shows that the interlayer ferromagnetic coupling in the doped few-layer CrI3 is closely related to the formation of localized spin-polarized state. This finding indicates that insulated interlayer ferromagnetism can be realized at high doping concentration (larger than 8.33%). When the doping concentration is less than 8.33%, but larger than 2.08%, an insulator-metal phase transition can occur since the localized spin-polarized states percolate to form contiguous grids in few-layer CrI3.

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a causative agent of recent outbreaks of severe respiratory illness, pneumonia and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) worldwide. The study of the pathogenesis, vaccines and anti-viral drugs for EV-D68 infection has been reported. Given the previously described mouse model of EV-D68, we sought to establish a neonatal mice model inducing both pneumonia and AFM. The neonatal BALB/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with the EV-D68 strain (named15296-virus) which was produced by the reverse genetics method. The infected mice displayed limb paralysis, tachypnea and even death, which were similar to the clinical symptoms of human infections. Moreover, the results of histopathologic examination and immunohistochemical staining showed acidophilic necrosis in the muscle, the spinal cord and alveolar wall thickening in the lung, indicating that EV-D68 exhibited strong tropism to the muscles, spinal cord and lung. Furthermore, the results of real-time PCR also suggested that the viral loads in the blood, spinal cord, muscles and lung were higher than those in other tissues at different time points post-infection. Additionally, the neonatal mouse model was used for evaluating the EV-D68 infection. The results of the anti-serum passive and maternal antibody protection indicated that the neonatal mice could be protected against the EV-D68 challenge, and displayed that both the serum of 15296-virus and prototype-virus (Fermon) were performing a certain cross-protective activity against the 15296-virus challenge. In summary, the above results proved that our neonatal mouse model possessed not only the interstitial pneumonia and AFM simultaneously but also a potentiality to evaluate the protective effects of EV-D68 vaccines and anti-viral drugs in the future.

Enterovirus 68 (EV-D68) is associated with respiratory diseases, such as acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), pneumonia, neurological diseases, and acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). In recent years, there have been global outbreaks of EV-D68 epidemics. However, there is no effective vaccine against EV-D68, and the understanding of the seroprevalence characteristics of EV-D68 is limited. To evaluate the epidemiological features of this emerging infection in mainland China, serum samples from 20 pairs of pregnant women and their neonates, 405 infants and children (ages 1 month-15 years), and 50 adults were collected to measure EV-D68 neutralizing antibodies (NtAbs). The results showed that the geometric mean titers (GMTs) of pregnant women and their neonates were 168 (95%CI: 93.6-301.7) and 162.3 (95%CI: 89.9-293.1), respectively. The seroprevalence rate of EV-D68 antibodies was negatively correlated with age in 1-month-old to 12-month-old infants (84% for 1-month-old infants vs 10% for 1-year-old infants), whereas it was positively correlated with age for 1-year-old to 15-year-old children (10% for 1-year-old children vs 92% for 15-year-old children). This study evaluated maternal antibodies against EV-D68 in neonates. Our results showed that if mothers had high levels of anti-EV-D68 NtAbs, the NtAbs titers in their neonates were also high. The GMTs and seroprevalence rates of each age group indicated that EV-D68 infection was very common in China. Periodical EV-D68 seroprevalence surveys and vaccination campaigns should be the top priority for preventing EV-D68 infection.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral childhood illness, that has been a severe public health concern worldwide, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. According to epidemiological data of HFMD during the past decade, the most prevalent causal viruses were enterovirus (EV)-A71, coxsackievirus (CV)-A16, CV-A6, and CV-A10. The public health burden of CV-A10-related diseases has been underestimated as their incidence was lower than that of EV-A71 and CV-A16 in most HFMD outbreaks. However, cases of CV-A10 infection are more severe, and its genome is more variable, which has alerted the research community worldwide. Areas covered: In this paper, studies on the epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, clinical manifestations, molecular epidemiology, seroepidemiology, animal models of CV-A10, and vaccines and antiviral strategies against this genotype are reviewed. In addition, the genetic evolution of circulating strains was analyzed. Expert opinion: Multivalent vaccines against EV-A71, CV-A16, CV-A6, and CV-A10 should be a next-step HFMD vaccine strategy.