Molecular Mimicry between Respiratory Syncytial Virus F Antigen and the Human Cardiac Titin Protein: A Potential Cause of Sudden Unexpected Deaths

Abstract

This study documents that 17 pentapeptides are common to Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F antigen and Titin, a human cardiac protein whose alterations are linked to sudden unexpected death (SUD) syndrome. The peptide sharing has a relevant immune-pathological potential since many of the common sequences are also present in immunopositive RSV F-derived epitopes, thus making likely the possibility that anti-Titin autoimmune cross-reactivity and consequent SUDs can be triggered by vaccines based on the RSV F antigen.