# ANALYSIS OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS GENE PRODUCTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1987 · $137,612

## Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial (RS) virus is an RNA-containing enveloped virus
that is the major cause of serious lower respiratory tract infections in
young children.  Despite its importance as a pathogen, the basic molecular
biology of RS virus has not been defined and there is no effective vaccine
for this virus.  We propose a study of the molecular biology of RS virus
that will have two interdependent objectives:  (I.) Characterization of the
viral genome and viral specified gene products by direct analysis of RNAs
and proteins and by molecular cloning of cDNA copies of the viral mRNAs and
(II.) Use of the information and the cDNA clones produced in Part I to
carry out a detailed study of the structure and function of the viral
surface glycoproteins in RS virus infection and immunity.  Specifically, we
plan to enumerate a complete catalogue of the RS virus genes and gene
products.  This will be done by in vitro translation of each of the
individual RS virus-specific mRNAs and correlation of proteins synthesized
in vitro with authentic virus structural and nonstructural proteins by gel
electrophoresis, peptide mapping using HPLC and immunoprecipitation.  A
transcriptional map of the genes will be made by UV inactivation studies.
Molecular clones of cDNAs to each of the viral mRNAs will be identified by
Northern blot analysis and hybrid-select translation.  These studies will
confirm and complete the mRNA coding assignments and directly correlate
cDNA clones with viral mRNAs and viral polypeptides.  The cDNA clones will
be used to construct a physical map of the genes by heteroduplex analysis
using EM.  The nucleotide sequence of cDNAs encoding the two viral surface
glycoproteins will be determined.  Both procaryotic and eucaryotic
expression vectors will be constructed from the cDNAs of the two surface
proteins to (i) provide a source of protein for production of monospecific
antibodies in rabbits and cotton rats (sigmoden hispidus) that will be used
to analyze the roles of the two surface proteins in RS virus infection and
immunity and (ii) provide a means for analyzing important functional
domains of the surface glycoproteins by recombinant DNA rearrangements.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3129662
- **Project number:** 5R01AI020181-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YND4PLMC9AN7
- **Principal Investigator:** Gail Wiliams Wertz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $137,612
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-02-01 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3129662

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3129662, ANALYSIS OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS GENE PRODUCTS (5R01AI020181-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3129662. Licensed CC0.

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