Summary
Strains of respiratory syncytial virus from 3 major areas of Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) were analyzed for variations in their antigenic and biological properties and in the molecular weights of their major structural proteins. Seventy-eight strains from infants and young children with LRI were collected from 1981–1984. The RSV season in the Australian cities lasted from April through September, with major peaks in July of each year, while the RSV season in tropical PNG was year-round, with small peaks in March and October of each year coinciding with excessive rainfall. Fifty-six strains were analyzed in detail; 40 were typed by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay with monoclonal antibodies as group A strains and 16 were group B; both groups were concurrent. Three children of one family had sequential RSV infections 13 months apart, and the etiologic group A strain was identical both years in terms of growth and antigenic properties with strain-specific ferret antisera; the second infection was milder in all three children. On average, the group A strains replicated considerably better than group B strains in HEp2 cells, producing 53% more syncytia and 99% higher infectious virus titers in 31% less time in culture. Ten group A and B reference strains exhibited the same growth patterns as the A and B regional strains, respectively. Differences in antigenicity as measured with hyperimmune antisera to prototype Long strain were even greater. Group A strains exhibited a mean 68% greater IFA staining than B strains, a 71% greater EIA reaction, and were neutralized to 69% higher serum titers than B strains. Again, the reference A and B strains included as controls gave patterns identical to those of the regional strains. Finally, the P phosphoprotein had consistently higher molecular weight in A strains (mean 35 900) than B strains (mean 33 100). Small variations in the sizes of the F and G glycoproteins were not sufficient to suggest grouping on this basis.
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Hierholzer, J.C., Tannock, G.A., Hierholzer, C.M. et al. Subgrouping of respiratory syncytial virus strains from Australia and Papua New Guinea by biological and antigenic characteristics. Archives of Virology 136, 133–147 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538823
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538823