Abstract: The construction of recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains deleted of the region of G protein most likely to induce unwanted type 2 T cell responses in susceptible recipients is disclosed. Using reverse genetics, recombinant RSV strains were engineered with deletions of amino acids 151-221 and 178-219. Both RSV strains replicated in the respiratory tract of BALB/c mice and elicited serum neutralization and anti-F protein IgG titers that were equivalent to cp-RSV and contributed to a 3.9 log 10 reduction in RSV A2 four days after challenge. Importantly, pulmonary eosinophilia was significantly diminished in BALB/c mice primed with native G protein and challenged with either recombinant RSV strain. These findings are important for the development of immunogenic compositions against RSV.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an antiviral for administration to a mammalian host (e.g., a human) susceptible to paramyxovirus infection, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. In certain embodiments, an antiviral molecule of the invention is a polypeptide, a chemokine polypeptide, a chemokine polypeptide fragment, an organic small molecule or a peptide mimetic, wherein the antiviral molecule inhibits or prevents paramyxovirus infection of a mammalian cell.