Molecular epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respira tory tract disease in infants. It is unusual in that it causes repeated inf ections throughout life. Despite considerable efforts there is as)ret no sa tisfactory vaccine available. This payer reviews the molecular epidemiology of the RSV and describes the complex genotypic structure of RSV epidemics. The evolution of the virus is discussed, with particular reference to the antigenic and genetic variability of the attachment glycoprotein. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.