Navigating the Challenges of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV):Insights into Pathogenesis, Epidemiology and Vaccine Development

Abstract

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a significant global health concern, particularly affecting paediatric and elderly populations. Despite its non-segmented genome, which mitigates large-scale pandemics, RSV’s high mutation rate presents challenges in vaccine development. RSV causes millions of infections annually, with substantial morbidity and mortality, especially among high-risk groups such as infants, the elderly, and individuals with comorbidities. The seasonal transmission of RSV varies geographically and has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding RSV’s transmission dynamics, clinical manifestations, risk factors, and diagnostic methods is crucial for effective management and prevention. While supportive care remains the mainstay of treatment, antiviral therapies like ribavirin and monoclonal antibodies are utilized in specific cases. Vaccines targeting RSV are under development, utilizing various platforms such as inactivated, live-attenuated, viral-vector-based, protein-based, nucleic acid-based, and subunit/VLP-based approaches. Recent advancements include FDA-approved vaccines and promising candidates in late-stage clinical trials, providing hope for mitigating RSV-related disease burden across diverse populations.