Title REVIEW] Modulation of the host immune response by respiratory syncytial virus proteins
Author Megan E. Schmidt1 and Steven M. Varga1,2,3*
Address 1Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA, 2Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA, 3Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Bibliography Journal of Microbiology, 55(3),161-171, 2017,
DOI 10.1007/s12275-017-7045-8
Key Words RSV, virus, T cell, lung, vaccine
Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe respiratory disease in both the very young and the elderly. Nearly all individuals become infected in early childhood, and reinfections with the virus are common throughout life. Despite its clinical impact, there remains no licensed RSV vaccine. RSV infection in the respiratory tract induces an inflammatory response by the host to facilitate efficient clearance of the virus. However, the host immune response also contributes to the respiratory disease observed following an RSV infection. RSV has evolved several mechanisms to evade the host immune response and promote virus replication through interactions between RSV proteins and immune components. In contrast, some RSV proteins also play critical roles in activating, rather than suppressing, host immunity. In this review, we discuss the interactions between individual RSV proteins and host factors that modulate the immune response and the implications of these interactions for the course of an RSV infection.