Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunodiagnostic Reagents: A Key to Safer Communities

Background on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a prevalent pathogen that can lead to infections in the lungs and respiratory tract. It is so common that most children contract it before they are 2 years old. RSV can also infect adults, although symptoms are typically milder and resemble those of the common cold. Self-care measures are often sufficient to alleviate any discomfort experienced by those with mild infections.

 

However, RSV can cause serious infections in certain populations, including infants younger than 12 months, older adults, individuals with heart or lung diseases, and those with weakened immune systems.

 

 

Understanding RSV

RSV is a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Pneumovirus genus. It has two dominant subtypes, A and B, and its genome sequence allows for the differentiation of strains.

 

RSV is enveloped and has a particle diameter of 100-300nm. Its genome is approximately 15.2kb long and contains 10 genes that encode 11 proteins. Two key transmembrane proteins, the G protein and F protein, serve as the virus’s primary protective antigens.

 

The F protein is only activated after being cleaved into two fragments, F1 and F2, by the host’s protease. This activation allows the F protein to fuse the viral envelope with the host cell membrane, playing a role in the immunopathology caused by RSV infection. The F protein is a target for antibodies and is crucial in vaccine and therapeutic drug development.

 

The G protein is responsible for attaching the virus to host cells, initiating the infection process. It varies among different strains and is not as conserved as the F protein. The Nucleocapsid protein (N) wraps the viral genome, forming a nucleoprotein complex.

 

 

Application in Vaccine and Therapeutic Development

The use of RSV-related proteins, antibodies, and other reagents is essential in the development of vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic reagents. These reagents aid in understanding the virus and developing effective strategies to prevent and treat RSV infections.

 

Commonly Employed Techniques for RSV Antigen Detection

 

Standard methods for detecting RSV antigens include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence techniques. ELISA is a cost-effective modified method that can detect the F protein of RSV, yielding results within 25 minutes. Immunofluorescence allows for rapid detection of RSV antigens using fluorescently labeled primary or secondary antibodies. For instance, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) assays are utilized in clinical laboratories for their simplicity and rapidity, with sensitivity and specificity rates of 94% and 96.8%, respectively.

 

Additionally, lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), based on immunochromatography technology, is a rapid method that employs nasal wash or secretion samples. Various LFIA kits are available in the market, such as BD Directigen EZ RSV, Binax now RSV, RSV Respi-Strip, Remel Xpect, and QuickLab RSV tests.

 

Another detection method is reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which utilizes nested PCR technology and RSV-A or -B F gene-specific primers. This method is employed in diagnosing infections in adults and can detect low-titer samples sensitively when combined with antigen-based detection approaches.

 

High-quality recombinant RSV N and F proteins produced by Xibao Biotechnology can be used in the preparation and screening of critical raw materials (antibody pairs) for RSV antigen detection reagents. These proteins also serve as quality control materials for antigen detection reagents. Xibao Biotechnology’s research and development team has identified high-quality paired antibodies to safeguard developers of RSV antigen detection kits.

 

 

Product Catalog:

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immunoassay Antigens and Antibodies