Incubation RSV: The Quest for a New Vaccine
Sep 21, 2023
Keren Landman, Jason McLellan, and Barney Graham discuss the challenges of developing a vaccine for RSV, the impact of RSV on vulnerable populations, and the historical failures of RSV vaccines. They also explain the importance of the F protein, the process of developing a structure-based vaccine for RSV, and the successful testing of the vaccine in mice.
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RSV Severity
- RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is often mistaken for a common cold.
- However, it poses serious health risks, especially for infants and older adults, sometimes requiring hospitalization.
Failed RSV Vaccine Trial
- In 1960, a clinical trial for an RSV vaccine had disastrous results.
- Not only did the vaccine fail to protect children, it worsened their condition, leading to hospitalizations and even deaths.
Reason for Vaccine Failure
- The 1960s RSV vaccine failed because it altered the viral proteins, resulting in antibodies that bound to the virus but couldn't neutralize it.
- This led to an overabundance of ineffective antibodies, which exacerbated the illness.