Enterovirus 71 (EV71) has emerged as a major causative agent of hand， foot and mouth disease in the Asia-Pacific region over the last decade. Hand， foot and mouth disease can be caused by different etiological agents from the enterovirus family， mainly EV71 and coxsackieviruses， which are genetically closely related. Nevertheless， infection with EV71 may occasionally lead to high fever， neurologic complications and the emergence of a rapidly fatal syndrome of pulmonary edema associated with brainstem encephalitis. The rapid progression and high mortality of severe EV71 infection has highlighted the need for EV71-specific diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Monoclonal antibodies are urgently needed to specifically detect EV71 antigens from patient specimens early in the infection process. Furthermore， the elucidation of viral epitopes will contribute to the development of targeted therapeutics and vaccines.