Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is responsible for one-third of deaths of acute lower respiratory infection in children less than one-year-old. The formaldehyde-inactivated RSV vaccine trial conducted in the 1960s predisposed the vaccinees to more serious RSV infection instead of protection. Better understanding of the underlying mechanism is of critical importance for better designing of safe and effective RSV vaccines. Areas covered: PubMed was searched to review immunopathology induced by RSV vaccines. We intend to dissect the differences in clinical and pathological manifestations of enhanced respiratory disease (ERD) in different animal models in comparison with humans. Formaldehyde-inactivated RSV vaccine causes ERD in both humans and animals, while RSV vaccine without formaldehyde treatment could also induce similar disease in animals, suggesting multiple pathways may be involved. Expert commentary: Identification of biomarkers pertinent to clinical evaluation should be further explored for safety assessment of RSV vaccines in human trials.
Keywords: Formaldehyde-inactivated vaccine; RSV; animal models; immunopathogenesis; vaccine enhanced disease.