title: Antigenic and genomic diversity within group A respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: Antigenic analysis using monoclonal antibodies and genomic analysis using ribonuclease protection was done on 47 isolates of group A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) recovered from children in St. Louis during four RSV seasons. Antigenic analysis identified four subgroups; of the three that included more than one member, those designated A/2 and A/2V had characteristic ribonuclease protection patterns. A third subgroup, A/4, exhibited more extensive genomic heterogeneity, but all isolates were distinguishable from those in subgroups A/2 and A/2V. Individual RSV epidemic seasons included isolates representing multiple subgroups of group A and multiple intrasubgroup variants, in addition to isolates from group B. Isolates that were indistinguishable by either antigenic or genomic analysis were present in more than one epidemic season. The subgroups may represent parallel evolutionary lineages, whose relevance to RSV immunity and pathogenesis requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Edwin Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Storch
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsou
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Dohner
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012260:Ribonucleases