Relationship between the loss of neutralizing antibody binding and fusion activity of the F protein of human respiratory syncytial virus

• Main Authors: Sarisky Robert T, Gutshall Lester L, Branigan Patrick J, Day Nicole D, Liu Changbao, Del Vecchio Alfred M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2007-07-01
• Series: Virology Journal
• Online Access: http://www.virologyj.com/content/4/1/71

<p>Abstract</p> <p>To elucidate the relationship between resistance to HRSV neutralizing antibodies directed against the F protein and the fusion activity of the F protein, a recombinant approach was used to generate a panel of mutations in the major antigenic sites of the F protein. These mutant proteins were assayed for neutralizing mAb binding (ch101F, palivizumab, and MAb19), level of expression, post-translational processing, cell surface expression, and fusion activity. Functional analysis of the fusion activity of the panel of mutations revealed that the fusion activity of the F protein is tolerant to multiple changes in the site II and IV/V/VI region in contrast with the somewhat limited spectrum of changes in the F protein identified from the isolation of HRSV neutralizing antibody virus escape mutants. This finding suggests that aspects other than fusion activity may limit the spectrum of changes tolerated within the F protein that are selected for by neutralizing antibodies.</p>