title: Novel therapies and vaccines against the human respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections worldwide in infants, as well as an important pathogen affecting the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Despite more than a half a century of research, no licensed vaccines are available and only palivizumab has been approved to use in humans, mostly recommended or limited to high risk infants. Therefore, novel therapeutic and preventive drugs need to be developed to fight this major human pathogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review discusses current therapeutic approaches in preclinical and clinical stages, aimed at controlling or preventing hRSV infection. These methods include passive immunization, experimental drugs, vaccine candidates and maternal immunization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of various immunization strategies and therapeutic approaches, it is likely that the most effective strategy against hRSV will be a prophylactic tool aimed at developing a strong antiviral T-cell response capable of both, promoting the generation of hRSV-specific high affinity antibodies and leading the protective immunity required to prevent the disease caused by this virus. Alternatively, if prophylactic strategies fail, antiviral drugs and novel passive immunity strategies could significantly contribute to reducing hospitalization rates in susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Claudia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Roberto S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Céspedes
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Janyra A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Pablo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: b Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Facultad de Medicina , Universidad Andrés Bello , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Claudia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.|c INSERM U1064 , Nantes , France.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.affiliation: a Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.|c INSERM U1064 , Nantes , France.|d Departamento de Inmunología Clínica y Reumatología, Facultad de Medicina , Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Alexis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kalergis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007223:Infant; D000069455:Palivizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D000069455:Palivizumab
keywords: T-cell immunity; antibody therapy; hRSV; vaccines