A comparison of three vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus in calves.

An inactivated vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was compared with two live vaccines. The inactivated (GC) vaccine consisted of glutaraldehyde-fixed bovine nasal mucosa cells persistently infected with RSV and emulsified with oil adjuvant. The live vaccines were a modified virus (MV) derived from a bovine strain of RSV and a temperature-sensitive mutant (ts-1) derived from a human strain.

Monoclonal antibodies protect against respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice.

Twenty-five monoclonal antibodies (Mab) to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and two to hepatitis B virus were inoculated intravenously into mice. Twenty-four hours later the mice were challenged intranasally with RSV. Eleven of 14 Mab against fusion protein and four out of six Mab against a larger glycoprotein (GP84) significantly reduced the titre of RSV in the lungs when mice were killed 5 days later.

Experimental pneumonia in gnotobiotic calves produced by respiratory syncytial virus.

A bovine isolate of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), when inoculated intranasally into eight gnotobiotic calves produced significant macroscopic lesions of the lung (2-25% consolidation) but failed to produce any clinical signs of disease. The microscopic lesions comprised proliferative and exudative bronchiolitis with accompanying alveolar collapse and infiltration by mononuclear cells of the peribronchiolar tissue and alveolar walls. Virus was recovered from the nasopharynx between days 2 and 11 after infection with peak titres between days 4 and 7.

Infection of gnotobiotic calves with a bovine and human isolate of respiratory syncytial virus. Modification of the response by dexamethasone.

A bovine and a human strain of RSV both adapted to bovine cell culture, have been inoculated separately into 13 and 7 gnotobiotic calves respectively by 3 different methods. Both strains infected calves and showed similar growth patterns. Virus was recovered from the nasopharynx between one and 11 days with peak titres between 3 and 8 days following inoculation.

The characterization and uses of monoclonal antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus.

Fifteen hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have been produced. Three react with nucleoprotein (MW 42 000 daltons), 1 with phosphoprotein (MW 36 000 daltons), 1 with a larger protein (MW 60 000 daltons) and 10 with the fusion glycoprotein (MW 46 000 + 22 000 daltons). By immunofluorescent staining of infected cells, 5 monoclonal antibodies bind to cytoplasmic inclusions and the remainder give diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence.