Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants and immunocompromised populations, causing approximately 160,000 annual deaths globally. Despite recent approvals of prefusion F (pre-F) protein-based vaccines (Arexvy, Abrysvo) for older adults and pregnant women, pediatric vaccine development faces unique challenges including enhanced respiratory disease (ERD) risks, maternal antibody interference, and immature infant immune responses. Meanwhile, G protein glycosylation variability and NS1/NS2-mediated interferon suppression remain the outstanding difficulties in structure-based vaccine design. Additionally, current animal models demonstrate notable constraints in virus replication, host susceptibility, immune responses, clinical symptoms, and ERD phenomena. This review synthesizes current obstacles and innovative strategies, highlighting that the selection of multi-antigen strategies, appropriate adjuvants, and the development of more precise preclinical animal models are critical elements that will determine the efficacy and safety of future RSV vaccines.
Source: Viruses
DOI: 10.3390/v18010036
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Awards: G2660115668, G3417858882
OpenAlex ID: W7117102532