Anti-Respiratory Syncytial Virus antibody

Supplementary info

This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.

Activity summary

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus known to cause respiratory infections. It belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and is sometimes referred to by its alternate names like Human Orthopneumovirus. RSV is approximately 15 kb in size. It is predominantly expressed in the respiratory tract where it attacks epithelial cells leading to infection. The virus's ability to form a syncytium a large multinucleate cell is one of its mechanical strategies to aid in the spread across the host cells.

Biological function summary

The virus propagates efficiently within the host tissue leading to serious respiratory illness in infants and young children. RSV is not part of a specific complex but it engages host cellular machinery to promote its replication and prevent immune detection. The fusion (F) protein of RSV plays a critical role in mediating membrane fusion facilitating viral entry into the host cells. The involvement of viral proteins in modulating host immune responses is significant for the virus's life cycle.

Pathways

Respiratory infections caused by RSV connect to the host's immune signaling pathways including the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways and the interferon response pathway. The interaction of RSV proteins with these pathways leads to an increased inflammatory response. Proteins such as the RSV G protein interface with the chemokine receptor pathway which helps in modulation of the immune system to allow viral persistence. These interactions demonstrate the virus's strategies to evade immune surveillance and promote infection.

Associated diseases and disorders

Respiratory syncytial virus is a major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children. The virus's activity in the respiratory tract contributes to severe inflammation and cell damage which can lead to hospitalization. Other proteins like RSV M protein are involved in virus assembly and budding and they passively influence disease progression by impacting viral load and the host's immune response. Understanding these interactions is important for developing therapeutic strategies including anti-RSV monoclonal antibodies like palivizumab (2F7) which target prominent viral components to prevent severe disease outcomes.