title: Detection of respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein variants between 2009 and 2012 in China.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes respiratory tract infection, particularly acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI), in early childhood. The RSV fusion protein (F protein) is an important surface protein, and it is the target of both cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and neutralizing antibodies; thus, it may be useful as a candidate for vaccine research. This study investigated the genetic diversity of the RSV F protein. To this end, a total of 1800 nasopharyngeal aspirates from hospitalized children with ALRTI were collected for virus isolation between June 2009 and March 2012. There were 333 RSV-positive cases (277 cases of RSV A, 55 of RSV B, and 1 with both RSV A and RSV B), accounting for 18.5 % of the total cases. Next, 130 clinical strains (107 of RSV A, 23 of RSV B) were selected for F gene sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the F gene sequence is highly conserved, with significant amino acid changes at residues 16, 25, 45, 102, 122, 124, 209, and 447. Mutations in human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-restricted CTL epitopes were also observed. Variations in RSV A F protein at the palivizumab binding site 276 (N→S) increased between 2009 and 2012 and became predominant. Western blot analysis and microneutralization data showed a substitution at residue 276 (N→S) in RSV A that did not cause resistance to palivizumab. In conclusion, the RSV F gene is geographically and temporally conserved, but limited genetic variations were still observed. These data could be helpful for the development of vaccines against RSV infection.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China.
authors.forename: Qiuling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Caijing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Linli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Daiyin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lijia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ailong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Wenwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Enmei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins