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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
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Association of disease severity and genetic variation during primary Respiratory Syncytial Virus infections

William Bender1, Yun Zhang2, Anthony Corbett3

  • 1Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.

BMC Medical Genomics
|June 19, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) genetic variations, specifically in the G and M2-2 genes, are linked to disease severity in infants. Phylogenetic lineage also plays a role in how severe RSV infection becomes.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes a spectrum of illness in young children, from mild to life-threatening.
  • Previous studies suggest a link between RSV subtypes/lineages and disease severity, but findings are inconsistent.
  • The association between specific RSV gene variations and disease severity remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between RSV genetic variability and disease severity in infants.
  • To explore the role of phylogenetic lineage and specific gene mutations in RSV disease outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of whole-genome RSV sequences from nasal swabs of infants with mild or severe RSV disease.
  • Utilized overlapping PCR and next-generation sequencing for genetic analysis.
  • Employed both phylogenetic and non-phylogenetic statistical methods to correlate RSV genotype with disease severity.

Main Results:

  • RSV subtype B (RSVB) was statistically associated with increased disease severity.
  • Phylogenetic clustering of traits correlated significantly with disease severity.
  • GA1 clade RSV was linked to severe disease, while GB1 clade was associated with mild disease.
  • Variations in the G and M2-2 genes were significantly associated with disease severity, with specific residues identified.

Conclusions:

  • Phylogenetic lineage and genetic variability within RSV's G and M2-2 genes may influence disease severity in infants during their first RSV infection.
  • These findings highlight potential genetic markers for predicting RSV disease severity.
Abstract

Keywords:
Genetic variationRSVRespiratory infectionSevere diseaseWhole-genome

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