Interpreting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Nucleoprotein Mutations: A Structural and Functional Perspective

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) continues to be a major global health issue, especially for susceptible groups. This study delves into the structural and functional repercussions of distinct mutations such as: F300A, F320A, K107Q, L272A, R234A, R259A, T54N, Y288A, and Y353A in the Nucleoprotein of RSV (RSV N). The influence of the mutations on protein stability was predicted using various bioinformatics methods including PolyPhen-2, MutPred2, DUET, mCSM, SDM, and MAESTRO. The mutations were strategically introduced based on the wild type RSV N structure. Our results delineate distinct structural modifications caused by each mutation, shedding light on their potential functional implications. This study contributes essential insights into the intricate dynamics of RSV N, laying the foundation for targeted therapeutic interventions against RSV infections.