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Strain-specific serum antibody responses in infants undergoing primary infection with respiratory syncytial virus
R M Hendry1, J C Burns, E E Walsh
1Division of Virology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Insights
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection elicits varied antibody responses. While responses to the F glycoprotein were similar across RSV subgroups A and B, G glycoprotein responses showed significant differences, indicating subgroup specificity.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness in infants and young children.
- RSV is classified into two major subgroups, A and B, based on antigenic differences.
- Understanding subgroup-specific antibody responses is crucial for vaccine development and disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the subgroup-specific antibody immune response following primary human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
- To compare antibody reactivity to F and G glycoproteins and neutralizing antibody responses between RSV subgroups A and B.
Main Methods:
- RSV isolates from 43 children were typed as subgroup A or B.
- Acute and convalescent sera were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with purified F and G glycoproteins from both subgroups.
- Neutralization assays were performed against both RSV subgroups.
Main Results:
- Antibody responses to the F glycoprotein showed no significant difference between homologous and heterologous subgroups.
- Antibody responses to the G glycoprotein were significantly different between homologous and heterologous subgroups, with 7.3% relatedness.
- Neutralizing antibody responses revealed 31% relatedness between RSV subgroups A and B.
Conclusions:
- Primary RSV infection induces distinct antibody responses to G glycoproteins between subgroups A and B.
- The G glycoprotein may play a more significant role in subgroup-specific immunity compared to the F glycoprotein.
- Findings highlight the antigenic diversity of RSV and have implications for vaccine design targeting conserved or specific epitopes.
Abstract:
We sought to characterize the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subgroup-specific antibody response to primary infection with RSV. RSV isolates from 43 infants and young children were typed as either subgroup A (Long strain-like) or B (18537 strain-like) based on reactivity with monoclonal antibodies. Acute-phase or preinfection and convalescent-phase sera were collected from the 43 subjects and tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using purified F and G glycoproteins from RSV subgroups A and B and by neutralization assay against both subgroups of RSV. Twenty-six individuals had rises in titer of antibody to F glycoprotein, 27 to G glycoprotein, and 28 had rises in titer of neutralizing antibody. The antibody responses to homologous and heterologous F glycoproteins were not significantly different. In contrast, homologous vs. heterologous antibody responses to G glycoprotein were significantly different, with 7.3% relatedness between the G glycoproteins of subgroups A and B. Analysis of neutralizing antibody responses revealed 31% relatedness.