Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine: http://www.expertreviews.org/
DOI: 10.1017/S1462399406000081; 7 September 2006
Richard J. Sugrue (2006) Interactions between respiratory syncytial virus and the host cell: opportunities for
antivirus strategies? Expert Rev. Mol. Med. Vol. 8, Issue 21, DOI: 10.1017/
S1462399406000081

Interactions between respiratory syncytial virus and the host cell: opportunities for antivirus strategies?

Richard J. Sugrue ^{a1 a2}

^a1 MRC Virology Unit, Institute of Virology, Glasgow, G11 5JR, UK.

^a2 Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551. Tel: +65 63162889; Fax: +65 67913856; E-mail: rjsugrue@ntu.edu.sg

At the start of the 21st century, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a serious global health concern. Although RSV has traditionally been acknowledged as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the paediatric population, the elderly and people with suppressed immune systems are now also recognised as being at risk from serious RSV infection. This problem is currently exacerbated by the lack of an effective vaccine to prevent RSV infection. Although the virus proteins play a variety of roles during the virus replication cycle, in many cases these tasks are performed via specific interactions with host-cell factors, including proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. The way in which RSV interacts with the host cell is currently being examined using a battery of different techniques, which encompass several scientific disciplines. This is providing new and interesting insights into how RSV interacts with the host cell at the molecular level, which in turn is offering the hope of new strategies to prevent RSV infection.

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