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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
High Resolution Analysis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection In Vivo
Waleed Aljabr1, Stuart Armstrong2,3, Natasha Y Rickett4,5
1King Fahad Medical City, Research Center, 59046 Riyadh 11525, Saudi Arabia. waljabr@kfmc.med.sa.
Insights
This study reveals human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) proteins in children
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a significant cause of pediatric respiratory illness, with no existing vaccine or broadly applicable antiviral therapies.
- Understanding HRSV's in vivo behavior is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo biology of HRSV infection in children.
- To characterize viral and host responses using a combined omics approach.
Main Methods:
- Nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with varying HRSV viral loads were analyzed.
- High-throughput RNA sequencing and label-free quantitative proteomics were employed.
- Data were categorized into no infection, high, medium, and low viral load groups.
Main Results:
- HRSV proteins were detected and their abundance correlated with viral load (Ct value).
- Analysis identified HRSV subgroup A infection with distinct genomic variant clustering, particularly in the glycoprotein gene.
- Cellular antiviral proteins, such as ISG15, were found and their levels correlated with viral load.
Conclusions:
- Combined RNAseq and proteomics offer a novel approach to study HRSV in vivo.
- This methodology can elucidate virus-host interactions and inform therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of pediatric infection and also causes disease in the elderly and those with underlying respiratory problems. There is no vaccine for HRSV and anti-viral therapeutics are not broadly applicable. To investigate the effect of HRSV biology in children, nasopharyngeal aspirates were taken from children with different viral loads and a combined high throughput RNAseq and label free quantitative proteomics approach was used to characterize the nucleic acid and proteins in these samples. HRSV proteins were identified in the nasopharyngeal aspirates from infected children, and their abundance correlated with viral load (Ct value), confirming HRSV infection. Analysis of the HRSV genome indicated that the children were infected with sub-group A virus and that minor variants in nucleotide frequency occurred in discrete clusters along the HRSV genome, and within a patient clustered distinctly within the glycoprotein gene. Data from the samples were binned into four groups; no-HRSV infection (control), high viral load (Ct < 20), medium viral load (Ct = 20-25), and low viral load (Ct > 25). Cellular proteins associated with the anti-viral response (e.g., ISG15) were identified in the nasopharyngeal aspirates and their abundance was correlated with viral load. These combined approaches have not been used before to study HRSV biology in vivo and can be readily applied to the study the variation of virus host interactions.
