Poliovirus Serotype 2

Poliovirus serotype 2 (PV2) is one of the three serotypes of poliovirus, a member of the Enterovirus C species within the Picornaviridae family. Like all polioviruses, PV2 is a small, non-enveloped virus with an icosahedral capsid and a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome approximately 7,500 nucleotides in length. PV2 enters through the mouth and replicates primarily in the oropharynx and gastrointestinal tract before potentially spreading to local lymphoid tissue, bloodstream, and central nervous system (CNS). Destruction of motor neurons—especially those in anterior horn cells—can result in acute flaccid paralysis characteristic of poliomyelitis. Wild-type PV2 was declared eradicated globally; however, vaccine-derived strains can still circulate due to reversion mutations from oral polio vaccine strains (OPV). This has led to outbreaks associated with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses type 2 (cVDPV2).

Vaccine-induced antibody neutralization of viral entry.