Bovine respiratory syncytial virus antigens (BRSV antigens) (BRSV)

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) antigens are the primary molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of respiratory disease in cattle. BRSV is an enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Pneumoviridae [3, 12]. The most significant antigens are the fusion (F) and attachment (G) glycoproteins, which mediate viral entry and are the main targets for neutralizing antibodies [1, 16]. The F protein is responsible for the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane and the formation of multinucleated syncytia, a hallmark of the infection [7, 17]. The G protein facilitates attachment to host cells via sialic acid residues or CX3CR1 receptors [7, 12]. Other antigens include the nucleocapsid (N) protein, which is involved in RNA replication, and non-structural proteins (NS1 and NS2) that antagonize the host's interferon response [6, 12]. Therapeutic strategies primarily involve vaccines (modified-live or inactivated) that aim to induce protective immunity [1, 13]. However, a major challenge in BRSV target engagement is the risk of vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD), particularly with formalin-inactivated antigens, which can lead to severe pulmonary inflammation and a Th2-biased immune response [7, 16]. Experimental small-molecule fusion inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are also being explored as potential treatments [4, 15].

Other names

BRSV antigensBovine orthopneumovirus antigensOrthopneumovirus bovis antigensBRSV proteinsBRSV glycoproteins

Vaccines induce neutralizing antibodies and T-cell responses against viral proteins (primarily F and G) to prevent infection and disease. Fusion inhibitors (e.g., GS1) bind to the F protein to block the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane. Monoclonal antibodies (e.g., palivizumab) neutralize the virus by binding to specific epitopes on the F protein, preventing viral entry.