UNLABELLED Airway epithelium is the primary target of many respiratory viruses. However, virus induction and antagonism of host responses by human airway epithelium remains poorly understood. To address this, we developed a model of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection based on well-differentiated pediatric primary bronchial epithelial cell cultures (WD-PBECs) that mimics hallmarks of RS...

Infections was a multidisciplinary forum for the presentation of recent advances in respiratory virus research with special emphasis on antiviral therapies and vaccine strategies. Topics covered in invited lectures included detection of novel respiratory viral pathogens and viral evolution, characterization of the 1918 pandemic virus, human metapneumovirus infections, human respiratory epitheli...

A rapid assay, Binax NOW RSV, was compared to viral culture for 14,756 pediatric respiratory specimens obtained from 2003 to 2006. There were 794 viral culture-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus infections. Sensitivity was 81%, and specificity was 93.2%. Sensitivity was greatest for neonates (91.1% versus 80.7% [P < 0.01]).

To determine the molecular mechanism(s) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) upregulation in respiratory epithelial cells (REC; A549 cell cultures), we investigated the roles of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and C/EBP. Increases in ICAM-1 message required de novo mRNA synthesis. ICAM-1 promoter constructs (luciferase reporter gene) transf...

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sometimes causes acute and severe lower respiratory tract illness in infants and young children. RSV strongly upregulates proinflammatory cytokines and the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor, which is a receptor for Streptococcus pneumoniae, in the pulmonary epithelial cell line A549. Clarithromycin (CAM), which is an antimicrobial agent and is als...

Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children in developing countries. We evaluated the extent of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children with ALRI using a rapid and sensitive enzyme immunoassay for the antigen detection directly from the nasopharngeal aspirate. The immune response to the virus was determined by detecting...

Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the use of palivizumab prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was first published in a policy statement in 1998. Guidance initially was based on the result from a single randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 1996–1997 describing an overall reduction in RSV hospitalization rate from 10.6% among placebo...

Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the use of palivizumab prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was first published in a policy statement in 1998. Guidance initially was based on the result from a single randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 1996–1997 describing an overall reduction in RSV hospitalization rate from 10.6% among placebo...

BACKGROUND Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infancy is associated with subsequent recurrent wheezing. METHODS A retrospective cohort study examined children born at ≥32 weeks gestation between 1996-2004. All children were enrolled in an integrated health care delivery system in Northern California and were followed through the fifth year of life. The primary endpoint was recurre...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of serious respiratory infections in children as well as a serious cause of disease in elderly and immunosuppressed populations. There are no licensed vaccines available to prevent RSV disease. We have developed a virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate for protection from RSV. The VLP is composed of the NP and M proteins of Newcastle d...