Venter, MarietjieVan Niekerk, StephanieRakgantso, AndronicaBent, Nicola2012-07-202012-07-202011-08Venter, M, Van Niekerk, S, Rakgantso, A & Bent, N 2011, 'Identification of deletion mutant respiratory syncytial virus strains lacking most of the G protein in immunocompromised children with pneumonia in South Africa', Journal of Virology, vol. 85, no. 16, pp. 8453-8457.0022-538x (print)1098-5514 (online)10.1128/​JVI.00674-11http://hdl.handle.net/2263/19469Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) G protein deletion mutants replicate effectively in vitro but have not been detected in nature. Subtyping of RSV strains in hospitalized children in South Africa identified G protein PCR amplicons significantly reduced in size in 2 out of 209 clinical specimens screened over 4 years. Sequence analysis revealed subtype B strains lacking nearly the entire G protein ectodomain in one HIV-positive and one HIV-exposed child hospitalized with pneumonia. The association of clinical strains lacking most of the G protein with lower respiratory tract infection in immunocompromised children may have implications for RSV vaccine development.en© 2011 American Society for MicrobiologyRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)IdentificationPneumoniaSouth Africa ( SA )Immunodeficiency -- ResearchPoliomyelitis vaccine -- ResearchPostprint Article