Genetic Signature Identified for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus(RSV)

The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital published a study in PLOS Medicine that identifies the genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of infant hospitalizations. The purpose of the study was to identify what infants are at risk for RSV , understand the affect of RSV on the immune system, and locate biomarkers that can accurately access the severity of the disease. In order to do this, Dr. Mejias compared the RNA profiles of about 220 children infected with RSV or similar respiratory virus such as influenza. They found that "genes involved in the function of interferon and neutrophils - key components of the innate immune system - were activated, while genes that regulate T and B cells in the adaptive immune system were suppressed." Screening RNA profiles resulted as a great diagnostic tool to differentiate between specific respiratory viruses. It was also able to link scores to the disease's severity with surprising precision: they were able to tell from these score how long each infant required hospitalization. They hope that by creating a better diagnostic tool and expanding their knowledge as to how the disease affects the immune system, they will be able to create better treatments. Currently, there are no approved vaccines. The only current drug available to prevent severe cases is palivizumab which is injected into large muscles, such as the thigh, in order to bind to the RSV glycoprotein. In a study performed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), scientists noted that there are three antibodies that neutralize RSV. They were also able to discover the structural basis for how the neutralization took place.
Hopefully, this will lead to the production of more effective treatments. As many as 144,000 infants were hospitalized last year alone. It is incredibly sad to know that there is very little that can be done at the moment for those children who have severe cases of RSV.