RSV Glycoprotein G

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a member of the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses. The negative-sense singlestranded RNA genome contains 10 genes that encode 11 proteins. Three proteins are present on the surface of the virus and of virally infected cells. The fusion (F) glycoprotein mediates fusion of the virus to the host cell during viral entry and, late in infection, between infected cells and their uninfected neighbor to form the characteristic syncytia. RSV G, the putative attachment protein, is naturally expressed as both a membrane-anchored and a secreted form. RSV exists as two antigenic subgroups, A and B, with the greatest divergence occurring in RSV G. RSV F and G are the only significant neutralization antigens, and previous studies suggest that these are the major protective antigens.