Abstract
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that remains the leading vaccine-preventable cause of child mortality worldwide. Deaths from measles are due largely to an increased susceptibility to secondary bacterial and viral infections, attributed to a prolonged state of immune suppression. Several abnormalities of the immune system have been described, including changes in lymphocyte number and function, shifts in cytokine responses, immunomodulatory effects of interleukin-10, down regulation of interleukin-12, impaired antigen presentation, and altered interferon α/β signaling pathways. Although the current vaccine is very effective, knowledge of the molecular basis of the immune responses to measles virus could contribute to the development of a safer, more immunogenic measles vaccine. However, the safety of new measles vaccines must be carefully investigated, as two measles vaccines have resulted in unintended immunologic consequences: atypical measles following administration of the formalin-inactivated measles vaccine and increased mortality in girls following administration of high-titer measles vaccines.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1380-1385 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2004 |
Keywords
- Immunity
- Immunosuppression
- Measles
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology