title: Group-specific serum antibody responses in children with primary and recurrent respiratory syncytial virus infections.
abstract: Antigenic group-specific serum antibody responses to first and second respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections were studied in children who had been followed longitudinally from early infancy in a research day-care center. Plaque-reduction neutralizing (PRN) antibody assays and ELISAs for the fusion (F) and attachment (G) glycoproteins were done using antigens of prototype RSV strains from groups A and B. Responses to antigens of viruses homologous and heterologous to the antigenic group of the infecting viral strain were compared. Primary group A infection elicited antibodies cross-reactive with group B virus in the PRNB and the ELISAS for GB and FB. In contrast, primary group B infection induced significant increases in mean concentrations of antibody cross-reactive with group A virus only in the FA ELISA. Second RSV infections caused by group B viruses in children with histories of primary group A infection induced heterologous rises in the PRNA and GA assays, suggesting that prior group A infection had primed for a more extensive cross-reacting antibody response at the time of second RSV infections with group B viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Muelenaer
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Hemming
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins