Abstract
The effect of genetic variation on the neutralizing antibody response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is poorly understood. In this study, acute- and convalescent-phase sera were evaluated against different RSV strains. The proportion of individuals with homologous seroconversion was greater than that among individuals with heterologous seroconversion among those infected with RSV group A (50% vs 12.5%; P = .0005) or RSV group B (40% vs 8%; P = .008). Seroconversion to BA genotype or non-BA genotype test viruses was similar among individuals infected with non-BA virus (35% vs 50%; P = .4) or BA virus (50% vs 65%; P = .4). The RSV neutralizing response is group specific. The BA-associated genetic change did not confer an ability to escape neutralizing responses to previous non-BA viruses.
Highlights
In addition to group-specific differences, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) G gene is known to undergo molecular evolution characterized by progressive accumulation of amino acid changes at an estimated rate of 0.25% of amino acids per year over the length of the protein [8]
We investigated RSV group–specific responses to both contemporary and historical test viruses, as well as the role of the recent BA genetic change in abrogating neutralizing responses generated against wild-type group B strains that did not have the duplication
Group Specificity of the RSV Neutralizing Response Comparison of homologous and heterologous neutralizing antibody responses in different age classes was performed by testing the difference between homologous and heterologous fold-rises in titer
Summary
In addition to group-specific differences, the RSV G gene is known to undergo molecular evolution characterized by progressive accumulation of amino acid changes at an estimated rate of 0.25% of amino acids per year over the length of the protein [8]. The emergence of a novel strain of RSV B with a 60-nucleotide duplication in the variable region of the G gene has been described (the BA genotype) [10]. Since it was first reported about 10 years ago, the BA genotype has progressed from relative novelty to becoming the most dominant genotype of RSV B globally [11]. We investigated RSV group–specific responses to both contemporary and historical test viruses, as well as the role of the recent BA genetic change in abrogating neutralizing responses generated against wild-type group B strains that did not have the duplication
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