title: The fusion glycoproteins of human respiratory syncytial virus of subgroups A and B: sequence conservation provides a structural basis for antigenic relatedness.
abstract: Two major antigenic subgroups (A and B) have been described for human respiratory syncytial virus. The complete nucleotide sequence was determined for the fusion (F) mRNA of the subgroup B strain 18537 and the amino acid sequence of the F protein deduced, for comparison with the previously described sequences for the A2 strain of subgroup A. The F proteins (excluding the cleaved signal peptide) were 91% identical between the subgroups, consistent with the previously described high degree of antigenic relatedness. The greatest divergence occurred within the F2 subunit immediately preceding the cleavage activation site.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins