title: Carriers for the delivery of a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young children and the elderly. Despite its clinical importance, there is no licensed vaccine available at present. Vaccine development has been hampered by observations of increased pathology after RSV infection in infants vaccinated with formalin-inactivated RSV; incomplete immunity following natural infection; and the need to be effective during the neonatal period when levels of maternal antibody are high. Four categories of RSV vaccine carriers--live-attenuated RSVs, recombinant vectors expressing the protective antigens of RSV, DNA vaccines and subunit vaccines--have been evaluated in animal models and/or clinical trials. So far, studies with live-attenuated virus vaccines highlight the need to improve immunogenicity whilst maintaining a suitable level of attenuation. Studies with recombinant vectors, DNA and subunit vaccines illustrate the pivotal nature of the vaccine carrier in determining the balance between immune-mediated protection against infection and the induction of immune-mediated pulmonary pathology.
authors: Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centre for Infection, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK. mcranage@sgul.ac.uk
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Cranage
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019470:Biolistics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins