Polina Furmanova-Hollenstein

TL;DR: Alternative strategies to arrest RSV F in the prefusion conformation based on the prevention of hinge movements in the first refolding region and the elimination of proteolytic exposure of the fusion peptide are reported.

TL;DR: It is shown that therapeutic small molecules developed that bind the RSV F glycoprotein and inhibit membrane fusion bind to a three-fold-symmetric pocket within the central cavity of the metastable prefusion conformation of RSVF.

TL;DR: Oral treatment of neonatal lambs with JNJ-53718678 efficiently inhibits established acute lower respiratory tract infection in the animals, even when treatment is delayed until external signs of respiratory syncytial virus illness have become visible.

TL;DR: Two human antibodies directed against the central conserved region of RSV G are isolated and demonstrated that they neutralize RSV infection of human bronchial epithelial cell cultures in the absence of complement and protected cotton rats from severe RSV disease.

TL;DR: A breathing motion of the prefusion conformation of F is shown, resulting in transient opening of the trimeric complex in solution and on the cell surface, which has implications for the function of class I fusion proteins, as well as antibody prophylaxis and vaccine development for RSV.