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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Human respiratory syncytial virus pathophysiology

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative sense, single stranded RNA virus, member of Pneumoviridae family, Orthopneumovirus genus. It is spread by direct contact with infectious sections or by self-inoculation after touching contaminated surfaces. The virus infects the ciliated epithelial cells of the respiratory tract triggering an intense inflammatory response.

Transmission

Transmission

  • Respiratory syncytial virus is spread by
    • Direct contact with an infected individual
    • Self-inoculation after touching contaminated surfaces[1]
    • Infectious sections in form of large-particle aerosols or fomites[2]
  • The virus infects the ciliated epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, specifically the bronchioles. It may also infect the basal cells, targeting the airway epithelium[3].
  • Upon infection, an intense inflammatory response is triggered, mediated initially by the infected airway epithelial cells[4][5].
Genetics

Genetics

  • RSV is an enveloped, negative sense, single stranded RNA virus. It is member of Pneumoviridae family, Orthopneumovirus genus[5].
  • The viral genome encodes 11 proteins. The G protein is responsible for viral attachment to cells, and the F protein promotes syncytia formation[4].
References

References

  1. ↑ Hall CB, Douglas RG (1981). “Modes of transmission of respiratory syncytial virus”. J Pediatr. 99 (1): 100–3. doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(81)80969-9. PMID 7252646.
  2. ↑ Hall CB (2000). “Nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections: the “Cold War” has not ended”. Clin Infect Dis. 31 (2): 590–6. doi:10.1086/313960. PMID 10987726.
  3. ↑ Persson BD, Jaffe AB, Fearns R, Danahay H (2014). “Respiratory syncytial virus can infect basal cells and alter human airway epithelial differentiation”. PLoS One. 9 (7): e102368. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102368. PMC 4102526. PMID 25033192.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hacking D, Hull J (2002). “Respiratory syncytial virus–viral biology and the host response”. J Infect. 45 (1): 18–24. doi:10.1053/jinf.2002.1015. PMID 12217726.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rey-Jurado E, Kalergis AM (2017). “Immunological Features of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Caused Pneumonia-Implications for Vaccine Design”. Int J Mol Sci. 18 (3). doi:10.3390/ijms18030556. PMC 5372572. PMID 28273842.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Bassel Almarie M.D.[2]