IMMUNIZATION WITH A PEPTIDE DERIVED FROM THE G-GLYCOPROTEIN OF BOVINERESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (BRSV) REDUCES THE INCIDENCE OF BRSV-ASSOCIATED PNEUMONIA IN THE NATURAL HOST

Previous reports demonstrate that synthetic peptides corresponding to the amino acid region 174-187 of G glycoprotein from subgroups A and B human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), containing a Cys-->Ser subs titution at position 186, confer complete resistance to immunized BALB /c mice against infection with the respective virus, In this report, w e show that a Cys186-->Ser substituted peptide (BG/174-187) representi ng the corresponding region of the bovine (B) RSV G glycoprotein confe rred complete protection of mice against BRSV challenge, suggesting th at the 174-187 region of RSV G glycoproteins constitutes a dominant pr otective epitope which has been maintained throughout evolution, Furth ermore, immunization of calves with peptide BG/174-187 efficiently ind uced the production of antibodies capable of recognizing both the pare ntal G glycoprotein and peptide BG/174-187. Following challenge with l ive BRSV, although none of the animals were protected from upper respi ratory tract disease, there were little or no gross pneumonic lesions in the four peptide-immunized calves. In contrast, moderate to extensi ve pneumonic lesions were observed in 2 out of 3 calves in the control group. Our results thus suggest that peptide BG/174-187 efficiently p revented BRSV-associated pneumonia in the natural host. The use of thi s system as a model is quite promising with regard to the development of a human synthetic vaccine. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.