Genome-wide linear B-cell epitopes of enterovirus 71 in a hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) population.

•Serum screening with a genome-wide-EV71 peptide microarray was performed in a HFMD population.•Dominant epitope-containing-peptides (DECPs) that react with the sera of more than 20% of the HFMD population were identified.•Common DECPs that cross-reacted with the sera from other enteroviruses were identified.•Some dominant epitopes recognized by the antibody response correlated with the severity of hand, foot and mouth disease.