Immunological Features of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Caused Pneumonia—Implications for Vaccine Design

Abstract

The human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the causative agent for high rates of hospitalizations due to viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia worldwide. Such a disease is characterized by an infection of epithelial cells of the distal airways that leads to inflammation and subsequently to respiratory failure. Upon infection, different pattern recognition receptors recognize the virus and trigger the innate immune response against the hRSV. Further, T cell immunity plays an important role for virus clearance. Based on animal studies, it is thought that the host immune response to hRSV is based on a biased T helper (Th)-2 and Th17 T cell responses with the recruitment of T cells, neutrophils and eosinophils to the lung, causing inflammation and tissue damage. In contrast, human immunity against RSV has been shown to be more complex with no definitive T cell polarization profile. Nowadays, only a humanized monoclonal antibody, known as palivizumab, is available to protect against hRSV infection in high-risk infants. However, such treatment involves several injections at a significantly high cost. For these reasons, intense research has been focused on finding novel vaccines or therapies to prevent hRSV infection in the population. Here, we comprehensively review the recent literature relative to the immunological features during hRSV infection, as well as the new insights into preventing the disease caused by this virus.

Heme Oxygenase-1 Modulates Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Replication and Lung Pathogenesis during Infection

“…During hRSV disease, epithelial cells in the distal airway respond to viral infection by secreting proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that promote an exacerbated recruitment of infiltrating cells, mainly neutrophils, leading to inflammation and tissue damage (8). Therefore, the design of new strategies to prevent hRSV diseases must consider parameters such as the inhibition of viral replication and reduction of lung inflammation.…”

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Macrocyclic Inhibitors of the Proprotein Convertase Furin

“…Such infections can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia, especially in younger infants. In 2015, about 3.2 million hospital admissions and 59 600 in‐hospital deaths in children younger than five years were reported; approximately 45 % of these cases occurred in children younger than six months . There is still no vaccine available for RSV.…”

“…Current treatment of RSV infections includes palivizumab, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against the RSV fusion protein F, and inhaled ribavirin. RSV is an enveloped virus containing a non‐segmented negative‐sense single‐stranded RNA genome that belongs to the family of Pneumoviridae . The surface of the virion contains three glycoproteins: the fusion protein F, the attachment protein G, and a so‐called small hydrophobic protein SH.…”

“…In 2015, about 3.2 millionh ospital admissions and 59 600 in-hospital deaths in childreny ounger than five years were reported;a pproximately 45 %o ft hese cases occurred in children younger than six months. [32] There is still no vaccine available for RSV.C urrent treatment of RSV infections includes palivizumab,aneutralizing monoclonal antibody against the RSV fusion protein F, and inhaled ribavirin. RSV is an enveloped virus containing an on-segmented negativesense single-stranded RNA genome that belongs to the family of Pneumoviridae.…”

“…RSV is an enveloped virus containing an on-segmented negativesense single-stranded RNA genome that belongs to the family of Pneumoviridae. [32] The surface of the virion contains three glycoproteins:t he fusion protein F, the attachment protein G, and as o-called small hydrophobic protein SH. Fi satype Ip rotein and mediates the fusion between the virion coat and the plasma membrane of the host cell.…”