Li W, et al. - In the present study, researchers investigated the gut microbiota of children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) via registering 15 cases with HFMD admitted to the West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, China, at a median age of three years from July to September 2016. The gut microbiota dysbiosis of HFMD cases included the reduction of two butyrate-producing bacteria (Ruminococcus and Roseburia) and the up-regulation of inflammation-inducing bacteria (Escherichia and Enterococcus). Findings suggested that these might have impaired the intestinal biological mucosal barrier and host immune functions, promoting enterovirus invasion.