Heparan sulfate analogues act as decoy receptors and efficiently block enterovirus 71 infection.

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 that bind the viral capsid and act 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.