Caused by viruses and/or bacteria (such as seasonal influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae , and human metapneumovirus), the mild and self-limiting acute respiratory infection (ARIs) may sometimes entail medical attention. Seasonal influenza, rhinovirus, RSV and hMPV were increasingly detected as ARI infections increased in China. Divided into two major subgroups A and B, hMPV (human Metapneumovirus ) is enveloped with non-segmented, ~13 kb negative-strand RNA genome coding for N, P and L proteins forming a helical ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) of ~13–14 nm diameter. Efforts to develop vaccines and drugs to treat hMPV are warranted. hMPV proteins (SH, P, G, and M2-2) are good vaccine targets. Little progress is seen thus far in developing hMPV vaccine via the traditional route. Sophisticated computational tools ensure the safety and efficacy of a designed vaccine, and advanced modeling techniques are used to test its structural stability and functionality. Multi-epitope-based mRNA vaccine seems feasible. Multi-epitope mRNA vaccine is developed using advanced immunoinformatics, engaging the F protein and few G, M1, M2, and SH proteins epitopes. The designed and optimized mRNA sequence is inserted into bacterial plasmid to mass produce. Some vaccines were promising during initial clinical trials. This strategy demonstrates the adaptability of mRNA technology and its potential to treat a variety of infectious diseases in coming days. Developing multi-epitope-based vaccine targeting many respiratory viral pathogens seems more promising and practical. Effective multi-epitope mRNA vaccine could offer safeguard to hMPV-vulnerable groups, revolutionizing the strategies to counter hMPV. Studies have also evaluated T cell-based therapies.
Kumar et al. (Tue,) studied this question.