Infection with recombinant virus lacking the N-glycosylation site at position N116 (RSV F N116Q) resulted in significant higher neutralizing antibody titers compared to RSV F WT infection, which is surprising since this N-glycan is present in the p27 peptide which is assumed to be absent from the mature F protein in virions.
A processing intermediate RSV prefusogenic F has been reported in infected cells, purified F, budded virus, and elicited a strong immune response against p27 in RSV infected young children.
Removal of the N-Glycosylation Sequon at Position N116 Located in p27 of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein Elicits Enhanced Antibody Responses after DNA Immunization.
In comparison, RSV/B had 19 aa changes in antigenic sites: I (N = 3), II (N = 1), p27 (N = 9), ø (N = 4), α2α3β3β4(AM14) (N = 1), and MPE8 (N = 1), ranging in frequency from 79-100%.