Innovative Design Unveils New Potential Vaccines Against RSV and hMPV

**Scientists at Scripps Research** have made significant strides in designing vaccines for two challenging viruses: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). These viruses cause mild symptoms in most, yet lead to severe respiratory issues in vulnerable populations like infants and seniors. Despite the necessity, vaccines for these viruses have been hard to craft due to the unstable nature of the F protein on their surfaces, which shifts forms rapidly, impeding immune recognition. The researchers, led by **Jiang Zhu, PhD**, analyzed the structural dynamics of the F protein in existing RSV vaccines and identified a particular