Antigenic and genetic diversity among the attachment proteins of group A respiratory syncytial viruses that have caused repeat infections in children.
Antigenic differences between the two major groups of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus may contribute to reinfections with these viruses. Additional variability occurs within the two major groups; the importance of intra-group variability in reinfections with RS virus has not been defined. Two pairs of group A viruses that had caused sequential infections in children showed G protein amino acid differences of up to 15%. Vaccinia viruses were constructed that expressed the G proteins from 2 of the paired group A isolates. Immunization of cotton rats with the recombinant vaccinia viruses provided equal protection against intranasal challenge by either of the RS viruses. Despite the amino acid differences between the two group A RS virus G proteins, these animal studies did not reveal differences in protection after immunization with the two G proteins. Precise definition of the role of RS virus antigenic variability in the establishment of reinfections in humans will require further investigations in humans.
Sullender
W M
WM
Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham 35233, USA. Pedp019@uabdpo.dpo.uab.edu
Mufson
M A
MA
Prince
G A
GA
Anderson
L J
LJ
Wertz
G W
GW
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015707:HN Protein; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D012008:Recurrence; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D016205:Sigmodontinae; D014611:Vaccination; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015707:HN Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C116204:attachment protein G