Antibody and T cell responses to measles virus polypeptides and synthetic peptides

• Published in: FEMS immunology and medical microbiology 1993-01, Vol.6 (1), p.3-11
• Main Authors: Mäkelä, M.J., Ilonen, J., Salmi, A.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - biosynthesis; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Epitope mapping; Epitopes - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunity; Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocyte Activation; Measles Vaccine - immunology; Measles virus; Measles virus - immunology; Mice; Microbiology; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Vaccines, Synthetic - immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 0928-8244; 1574-695X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.1993.tb00297.x

Measles continues to be a major health problem of children in developing countries where 1.5-2 million measles-related deaths occur annually. An increasing frequency of measles epidemics has also recently been reported in vaccinated populations in developed countries. Strong herd immunity is established and maintained for decades in all age groups after natural measles infection. Vaccination has not resulted in a similar long-lasting, complete protective immunity in all populations although the initial response is good. The number of susceptible individuals, especially in older age groups, seems to be increasing in vaccinated populations and there is also a change seen in the age of distribution of measles. Waning immunity in pregnant mothers has also an effect on the age when babies become susceptible to measles and require vaccination. Because of the high reproductive rate of measles infection, herd immunity should be kept at 93-95% level to eradicate the virus. A seroconversion rate of 95% is usually reached with the present live vaccines. Although the live vaccine has proved to be highly successful in Western countries with up to 99% decrease in measles incidence as compared to the prevaccination era, it may still not be sufficient for reaching the goal of global eradication. There are differences in the efficiency and stability of attenuated measles vaccines and even the best available vaccine may not be optimal. As no major variants of measles virus (MV) have been described, successful vaccination is generally considered to be sufficient for prevention of disease by any MV strain.