Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infections, particularly in children and the elderly. This virus primarily infects ciliated epithelial cells and activates alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, triggering an innate antiviral response that releases pro-inf...

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Main Authors: Gabriela Souza da Silva, Sofia Giacomet Borges, Bruna Bastos Pozzebon, Ana Paula Duarte de Souza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2305
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author Gabriela Souza da Silva
Sofia Giacomet Borges
Bruna Bastos Pozzebon
Ana Paula Duarte de Souza
author_facet Gabriela Souza da Silva
Sofia Giacomet Borges
Bruna Bastos Pozzebon
Ana Paula Duarte de Souza
author_sort Gabriela Souza da Silva
collection DOAJ
description Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infections, particularly in children and the elderly. This virus primarily infects ciliated epithelial cells and activates alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, triggering an innate antiviral response that releases pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, immunity generated by infection is limited, often leading to reinfection throughout life. This review focuses on the immune response elicited by newly developed and approved vaccines against RSV. A comprehensive search of clinical studies on RSV vaccine candidates conducted between 2013 and 2024 was performed. There are three primary target groups for RSV vaccines: pediatric populations, infants through maternal immunization, and the elderly. Different vaccine approaches address these groups, including subunit, live attenuated or chimeric, vector-based, and mRNA vaccines. To date, subunit RSV vaccines and the mRNA vaccine have been approved using the pre-fusion conformation of the F protein, which has been shown to induce strong immune responses. Nevertheless, several other vaccine candidates face challenges, such as modest increases in antibody production, highlighting the need for further research. Despite the success of the approved vaccines for adults older than 60 years and pregnant women, there remains a critical need for vaccines that can protect children older than six months, who are still highly vulnerable to RSV infections.
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series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-f35a0a6102b74660b8dd8a50bafe56e42024-11-26T18:14:53ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-11-011211230510.3390/microorganisms12112305Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and ChallengesGabriela Souza da Silva0Sofia Giacomet Borges1Bruna Bastos Pozzebon2Ana Paula Duarte de Souza3Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Infant Center, School of Health Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre 90619-900, BrazilLaboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Infant Center, School of Health Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre 90619-900, BrazilLaboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Infant Center, School of Health Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre 90619-900, BrazilLaboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Infant Center, School of Health Science, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre 90619-900, BrazilRespiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infections, particularly in children and the elderly. This virus primarily infects ciliated epithelial cells and activates alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, triggering an innate antiviral response that releases pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, immunity generated by infection is limited, often leading to reinfection throughout life. This review focuses on the immune response elicited by newly developed and approved vaccines against RSV. A comprehensive search of clinical studies on RSV vaccine candidates conducted between 2013 and 2024 was performed. There are three primary target groups for RSV vaccines: pediatric populations, infants through maternal immunization, and the elderly. Different vaccine approaches address these groups, including subunit, live attenuated or chimeric, vector-based, and mRNA vaccines. To date, subunit RSV vaccines and the mRNA vaccine have been approved using the pre-fusion conformation of the F protein, which has been shown to induce strong immune responses. Nevertheless, several other vaccine candidates face challenges, such as modest increases in antibody production, highlighting the need for further research. Despite the success of the approved vaccines for adults older than 60 years and pregnant women, there remains a critical need for vaccines that can protect children older than six months, who are still highly vulnerable to RSV infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2305vaccineRespiratory Syncytial Virusimmune response
spellingShingle Gabriela Souza da Silva
Sofia Giacomet Borges
Bruna Bastos Pozzebon
Ana Paula Duarte de Souza
Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges
Microorganisms
vaccine
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
immune response
title Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges
title_full Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges
title_fullStr Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges
title_full_unstemmed Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges
title_short Immune Responses to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines: Advances and Challenges
title_sort immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus vaccines advances and challenges
topic vaccine
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
immune response
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/11/2305
work_keys_str_mv AT gabrielasouzadasilva immuneresponsestorespiratorysyncytialvirusvaccinesadvancesandchallenges
AT sofiagiacometborges immuneresponsestorespiratorysyncytialvirusvaccinesadvancesandchallenges
AT brunabastospozzebon immuneresponsestorespiratorysyncytialvirusvaccinesadvancesandchallenges
AT anapauladuartedesouza immuneresponsestorespiratorysyncytialvirusvaccinesadvancesandchallenges