This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Domachowske, J. B.
Right arrow Articles by Rosenberg, H. F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Domachowske, J. B.
Right arrow Articles by Rosenberg, H. F.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 1999, p. 298-309, Vol. 12, No. 2
0893-8512/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: Immune Response, Immunopathogenesis, and Treatment

Joseph B. Domachowske1,* and Helene F. Rosenberg2

State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse, Syracuse, New York 13210,1 and Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 208922

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the single most important cause of lower respiratory tract infection during infancy and early childhood. Once RSV infection is established, the host immune response includes the production of virus-neutralizing antibodies and T-cell-specific immunity. The humoral immune response normally results in the development of anti-RSV neutralizing-antibody titers, but these are often suboptimal during an infant's initial infection. Even when the production of RSV neutralizing antibody following RSV infection is robust, humoral immunity wanes over time. Reinfection during subsequent seasons is common. The cellular immune response to RSV infection is also important for the clearance of virus. This immune response, vital for host defense against RSV, is also implicated in the immunopathogenesis of severe lower respiratory tract RSV bronchiolitis. Many details of the immunology and immunopathologic mechanisms of RSV disease known at present have been learned from rodent models of RSV disease and are discussed in some detail. In addition, the roles of immunoglobulin E, histamine, and eosinophils in the immunopathogenesis of RSV disease are considered. Although the treatment of RSV bronchiolitis is primarily supportive, the role of ribavirin is briefly discussed. Novel approaches to the development of new antiviral drugs with promising anti-RSV activity in vitro are also described.


* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Health Science at Syracuse, 750 East Adams St., Syracuse, NY 13210. Phone: (315) 464-6331. Fax: (315) 464-7564. E-mail: domachoj{at}vax.cs.hscsyr.edu.


Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 1999, p. 298-309, Vol. 12, No. 2
0893-8512/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Bruce, S. R., Atkins, C. L., Colasurdo, G. N., Alcorn, J. L. (2009). Respiratory syncytial virus infection alters surfactant protein A expression in human pulmonary epithelial cells by reducing translation efficiency. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 297: L559-L567 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mahony, J. B. (2008). Detection of Respiratory Viruses by Molecular Methods. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 21: 716-747 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Dyer, K. D., Moser, J. M., Czapiga, M., Siegel, S. J., Percopo, C. M., Rosenberg, H. F. (2008). Functionally Competent Eosinophils Differentiated Ex Vivo in High Purity from Normal Mouse Bone Marrow. J. Immunol. 181: 4004-4009 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Al-Toum, R., Bdour, S., Ayyash, H. (2006). Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections in Jordan. J Trop Pediatr 52: 282-287 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Holtzman, M. J., Battaile, J. T., Patel, A. C. (2006). Immunogenetic Programs for Viral Induction of Mucous Cell Metaplasia. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Bio. 35: 29-39 [Full Text]  
  • Holtzman, M. J., Tyner, J. W., Kim, E. Y., Lo, M. S., Patel, A. C., Shornick, L. P., Agapov, E., Zhang, Y. (2005). Acute and Chronic Airway Responses to Viral Infection: Implications for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Proc Am Thorac Soc 2: 132-140 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Oumouna, M., Mapletoft, J. W., Karvonen, B. C., Babiuk, L. A., van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk, S. (2005). Formulation with CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Prevents Induction of Pulmonary Immunopathology following Priming with Formalin-Inactivated or Commercial Killed Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine. J. Virol. 79: 2024-2032 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ebihara, T., Endo, R., Ishiguro, N., Nakayama, T., Sawada, H., Kikuta, H. (2004). Early Reinfection with Human Metapneumovirus in an Infant. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 5944-5946 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Bonville, C. A., Lau, V. K., DeLeon, J. M., Gao, J.-L., Easton, A. J., Rosenberg, H. F., Domachowske, J. B. (2004). Functional Antagonism of Chemokine Receptor CCR1 Reduces Mortality in Acute Pneumovirus Infection In Vivo. J. Virol. 78: 7984-7989 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Easton, A. J., Domachowske, J. B., Rosenberg, H. F. (2004). Animal Pneumoviruses: Molecular Genetics and Pathogenesis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 17: 390-412 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Maertzdorf, J., Wang, C. K., Brown, J. B., Quinto, J. D., Chu, M., de Graaf, M., van den Hoogen, B. G., Spaete, R., Osterhaus, A. D. M. E., Fouchier, R. A. M. (2004). Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase PCR Assay for Detection of Human Metapneumoviruses from All Known Genetic Lineages. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42: 981-986 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hall, C. B. (2004). Managing Bronchiolitis and Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Finding the Yellow Brick Road. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 158: 111-112 [Full Text]  
  • Brock, S. C., Goldenring, J. R., Crowe, J. E. Jr. (2003). Apical recycling systems regulate directional budding of respiratory syncytial virus from polarized epithelial cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100: 15143-15148 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Zimmer, G., Rohn, M., McGregor, G. P., Schemann, M., Conzelmann, K.-K., Herrler, G. (2003). Virokinin, a Bioactive Peptide of the Tachykinin Family, Is Released from the Fusion Protein of Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 46854-46861 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mackay, I. M., Jacob, K. C., Woolhouse, D., Waller, K., Syrmis, M. W., Whiley, D. M., Siebert, D. J., Nissen, M., Sloots, T. P. (2003). Molecular Assays for Detection of Human Metapneumovirus. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 100-105 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • de Swart, R. L., Kuiken, T., Timmerman, H. H., Amerongen, G. v., van den Hoogen, B. G., Vos, H. W., Neijens, H. J., Andeweg, A. C., Osterhaus, A. D. M. E. (2002). Immunization of Macaques with Formalin-Inactivated Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Induces Interleukin-13-Associated Hypersensitivity to Subsequent RSV Infection. J. Virol. 76: 11561-11569 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • McNamara, P. S, Smyth, R. L (2002). The pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus disease in childhood. Br Med Bull 61: 13-28 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Holtzman, M. J., Morton, J. D., Shornick, L. P., Tyner, J. W., O'Sullivan, M. P., Antao, A., Lo, M., Castro, M., Walter, M. J. (2002). Immunity, Inflammation, and Remodeling in the Airway Epithelial Barrier: Epithelial-Viral-Allergic Paradigm. Physiol. Rev. 82: 19-46 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Rosenberg, H. F., Domachowske, J. B. (2001). Eosinophils, eosinophil ribonucleases, and their role in host defense against respiratory virus pathogens. J. Leukoc. Biol. 70: 691-698 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Uzel, G., Premkumar, A., Malech, H. L., Holland, S. M. (2000). Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Patients With Phagocyte Defects. Pediatrics 106: 835-837 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Tripp, R. A., Jones, L., Anderson, L. J. (2000). Respiratory Syncytial Virus G and/or SH Glycoproteins Modify CC and CXC Chemokine mRNA Expression in the BALB/c Mouse. J. Virol. 74: 6227-6229 [Abstract] [Full Text]