To characterize the humoral response to the unglycosylated central region of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) attachment (G) protein, we generated glutathione S-transferase (GST)-RSV G subdomains (central core (CC), residues 151-190; proximal central core (PCC), 151-172; and distal central core (DCC), 173-190) to screen paired sera from RSV subtype A- or B-infected adults in hospitalized or outpatient settings. Following RSV infection, a >or=4-fold increase in homo- and heterosubtypic IgG response was noted in most subjects against the RSV G CC and PCC regions; in contrast, such titer increases against the RSV G DCC was only noted in a homosubtypic manner. Our results have implications for RSV G-based serological diagnostics and vaccine development.
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