HRSV G

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a syncytial virus that causes respiratory tract infections. It is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections and hospital visits during infancy and childhood. A prophylactic medication, palivizumab, can be employed to prevent HRSV in preterm (under 35 weeks gestation) infants, infants with certain congenital heart defects (CHD) or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and infants with congenital malformations of the airway. Treatment is limited to supportive care (e.g. C-PAP), including oxygen therapy. Major surface glycoprotein G attaches the virion to the host cell membrane by interacting with heparan sulfate, initiating the infection. It interacts with host CX3CR1, the receptor for the CX3C chemokine fractalkine, to modulate the immune response and facilitate infection. Unlike the other paramyxovirus attachment proteins, lacks both neuraminidase and hemagglutinating activities.