Respiratory Syncytial Virus Under the Lens of Structure: From Prefusion Stabilization to Next‐Generation Immunotherapies

ABSTRACT Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative‐sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Orthopneumovirus within the family Pneumoviridae . It is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children worldwide and also poses a significant health burden to elderly and immunocompromised individuals, with a clinical severity comparable to that of seasonal influenza. For decades, RSV‐specific prevention and treatment strategies remained limited; however, recent breakthroughs in both vaccine‐based active immunization and antibody‐mediated passive immunization have fundamentally reshaped the landscape of RSV prevention. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding and future challenges posed by RSV infection, integrating the latest advances in virology, epidemiology, clinical diagnostics, prevention strategies, and therapeutic innovations.