Neutralizing Antibodies Against the Preactive Form of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein Offer Unique Possibilities for Clinical Intervention
The only specific treatment available today against human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a humanized monoclonal antibody (Palivizumab) directed against the F glycoprotein, administered prophylactically to children at very high risk of severe hRSV infections. The authors of this article, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describe a unique class of antibodies specific for the prefusion form of this protein that account for most of the neutralizing activity of either a rabbit serum raised against a vaccinia virus recombinant expressing hRSV_F or a human Ig preparation (Respigam), which was used for prophylaxis before Palivizumab. The authors assert that these antibodies therefore offer unique possibilities for immune intervention against hRSV, and their production should be assessed in trials of hRSV vaccines.
Author: Magro M, Mas V, Chappell K, et al.
» Visit web page (English)
(Located at www.pnas.org)
Citation: Magro M, Mas V, Chappell K, et al. Neutralizing Antibodies Against the Preactive Form of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein Offer Unique Possibilities for Clinical Intervention. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2012; Early online publication.
Resource types: Peer-reviewed journal
Diseases/vaccines: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)