Respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein (RSV F protein)

The Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigens, primarily the fusion (F) and attachment (G) glycoproteins, are critical components located on the surface of the virion and the plasma membrane of infected host cells. The F protein is highly conserved across RSV strains and is the primary target for neutralizing antibodies and therapeutic interventions because it mediates the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane. This process is essential for viral entry and the subsequent formation of syncytia, which are multinucleated giant cells characteristic of RSV pathology. In clinical practice, monoclonal antibodies like Palivizumab and Nirsevimab target specific epitopes on the F protein to provide passive immunity and prevent severe lower respiratory tract disease in high-risk infants. Beyond passive immunization, small molecule fusion inhibitors are also being developed to disrupt the conformational changes required for viral entry. Understanding these antigens is vital for managing RSV-related bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which remain leading causes of hospitalization in children and the elderly worldwide.

Other names

RSV FRespiratory syncytial virus surface glycoproteinsRSV fusion glycoproteinRSV G proteinRespiratory syncytial virus attachment glycoproteinRSV antigens

Neutralization of the virus by binding to the F protein to prevent the transition from pre-fusion to post-fusion conformation, thereby inhibiting viral entry into host cells and preventing syncytia formation.