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Updated: Jul 7, 2025
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
New Insights on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention
Edyta Kopera1, Hanna Czajka1, Paweł Zapolnik1
1College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-315 Rzeszów, Poland.
Insights
New vaccines and monoclonal antibodies offer improved prevention against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for infants, children, and older adults. These advancements address a critical need for effective RSV interventions, especially after recent epidemiological shifts.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant pathogen causing respiratory infections in infants and older adults.
- Historically, prevention relied on limited options like palivizumab for high-risk infants.
- Recent COVID-19 pandemic observations revealed shifts in RSV seasonality and increased cases in various age groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evolving prevention strategies for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
- To discuss the impact of recent epidemiological changes on RSV prevention needs.
- To highlight new immunisation options in light of structural RSV antigen discoveries.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on RSV prevention.
- Analysis of recent epidemiological data shifts post-COVID-19.
- Examination of newly approved vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for RSV.
Main Results:
- Two protein-based RSV vaccines are now approved for adults and older populations.
- One vaccine is also available for infants via maternal immunization.
- Nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, offers passive immunization for pediatric groups.
Conclusions:
- Recent advancements provide novel and effective prevention methods against RSV.
- These new tools are crucial for protecting vulnerable populations, including infants and the elderly.
- Structural insights into RSV antigens have driven the development of these next-generation interventions.
Abstract:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a well-known infant pathogen transmitted mainly by droplets. It is a leading cause of upper respiratory tract infections in children, usually with a mild course of illness. RSV has also been a threat to older people, especially those with underlying medical conditions. For a long time, prevention was limited to passive immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab for high-risk infants. There was a strong need to find other treatment or prevention methods against RSV infections. In addition, after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some significant changes in RSV epidemiology have been observed. Researchers noticed the shift in RSV seasonality and age distribution and the increased number of cases in older infants and adults. All of these made the need to find other medical options even stronger. Fortunately, two protein-based vaccines against RSV have successfully passed all phases of clinical trials and have been approved for use by adults and older people. One of them is also approved for infants from birth to 6 months of age (after maternal immunisation during pregnancy) and for pregnant women between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Also, a new passive immunisation option named nirsevimab (a highly potent monoclonal antibody with a long half-life) is now available for the paediatric group. In this review, we will discuss the previous and current RSV prevention methods in the light of structural discoveries of RSV antigens.
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