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CC BY 4.0 · Glob Med Genet 2023; 10(01): 19-21
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761489
Rapid Communication

Molecular Mimicry between Respiratory Syncytial Virus F Antigen and the Human Proteome

Darja Kanduc 
1   Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies, and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Abstract

This study examined respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F glycoprotein (gp) antigen for molecular mimicry with the human proteome. It was found that the viral antigen presents an impressive number of pentapeptides (namely, 525 out of 570) in common with the human proteome, with viral sequences widely and repeatedly distributed among 3,762 human proteins implicated in crucial fundamental cellular functions. The data can have implications for anti-RSV vaccines. Indeed, the high level of molecular mimicry can lead to cross-reactivity and autoimmunity, and invites to follow safer vaccinal protocols based on pentapeptide sequences uniquely present in the viral antigen.

Keywords

molecular mimicry - RSV F - anti-RSV vaccines

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
30 January 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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