Measles Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Measles, including details on german measles, symptoms, vaccine, treatment, rubella.

Preclinical safety and biodistribution of sindbis virus measles DNA vaccines administered as a single dose or followed by live attenuated measles vaccine in a heterologous prime-boost regimen.

Ramirez K, Barry EM, Ulmer J, Stout R, Szabo J, Manetz S, Levine MM, Pasetti MF

Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201., Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Measles still causes considerable morbidity and mortality among infants and young children in developing countries. To develop a new public health tool to reduce this burden, we designed two Sindbis virus replicon vaccines encoding measles virus (MV) hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) proteins (pMSIN-H and pMSINHFdU). Our goal is to administer the vaccines to young infants at 6 and 10 weeks of age to prime the immune system to safely and effectively respond to subsequent immunization at age approximately 14 weeks with the licensed attenuated measles vaccine. In preparation for a phase 1 clinical trial, studies of plasmid distribution, integration, and toxicology were performed in rabbits. Biodistribution was assessed after a single DNA immunization delivered intradermally by needle-free injection. Toxicity was assessed using a heterologous prime-boost regimen consisting of a repeat-dose DNA prime followed by a live-attenuated measles vaccine boost. The only vaccine-related adverse effects observed were minimal transient erythema, edema, and inflammation confined to the injection site. Plasmids were detected in the subcutis and muscle at the site of inoculation. A small proportion of animals exhibited plasmids in the regional lymph nodes. There was no evidence of plasmid integration into the host genome. Both Sindbis-based vaccine plasmids were immunogenic in rabbits; pMSIN-H elicited higher virus-neutralizing antibody levels. Both vaccines were shown to be well tolerated and suitable for clinical trials and they are currently being tested in phase 1 studies in young adults.

Published 29 May 2008 in Hum Gene Ther, 19(5): 522-31.
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Articles on Measles published 28 May 2008:

Cost-effectiveness analysis of insecticide-treated net distribution as part of the Togo Integrated Child Health Campaign.   Malar J, 7: 73.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the first nationwide delivery of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLITNs) as part of the 2004 measles vaccination campaign in Togo to all children between nine months and five years. METHODS: An incremental approach was used to calculate the economic costs and effects from a provider perspective. Effectiveness was estimated in terms of malaria cases averted, deaths averted and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) averted. Malaria cases ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Measles published 20 May 2008:

High-density rafts preferentially host the complement activator measles virus F glycoprotein but not the regulators of complement activation.   Mol Immunol, 45(11): 3036-44.

The fusion (F) protein of measles virus (MeV) activates the alternative pathway of human complement in the presence of both CD46 and CD55 which regulate the complement activation [Devaux, P., Christiansen, D., Plumet, S., Gerlier, D., 2004. Cell surface activation of the alternative complement pathway by the fusion protein of measles virus. J. Gen. Virol. 85, 1665-1673]. The original observation of cold detergent-resistant membranes sedimenting at a higher density than the membrane rafts lead ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Laboratory methods for assessing vaccine potency retained in aerosol outputs from nebulizers: Application to World Health Organization measles aerosol project.   Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory methods for measuring vaccine potency of nebulized aerosol are required to support clinical trials of measles aerosol vaccination. METHODS: Measles vaccine containing the Edmonston Zagreb virus strain was reconstituted in sodium fluoride as tracer and nebulized from three devices. Emitted aerosol was collected using an impinger. Aliquots were removed from the impinger chamber for vaccine virus plaque assay and for fluoride measurement to determine aerosol output. RESULTS: ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Genetic variability and mRNA editing frequencies of the phosphoprotein genes of wild-type measles viruses.   Virus Res.

The sequences of the nucleoprotein (N) and hemagglutinin (H) genes are routinely used for molecular epidemiologic studies of measles virus (MV). However, the amount of genetic diversity contained in other genes of MV has not been thoroughly evaluated. In this report, the nucleotide sequences of the phosphoprotein (P) genes from 34 wild-type strains representing 15 genotypes of MV were analyzed and found to be almost as variable as the H genes but less variable than the N genes. Deduced amino ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Measles published 19 May 2008:

Measles virus induces cell-type specific changes in gene expression.   Virology, 375(2): 321-30.

Measles virus (MV) causes various responses including the induction of immune responses, transient immunosuppression and establishment of long-lasting immunity. To obtain a comprehensive view of the effects of MV infection on target cells, DNA microarray analyses of two different cell-types were performed. An epithelial (293SLAM; a 293 cell line stably expressing SLAM) and lymphoid (COBL-a) cell line were inoculated with purified wild-type MV. Microarray analyses revealed significant ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Simultaneous vaccination of Chinese applicants for a United States immigrant visa.   Travel Med Infect Dis, 6(3): 130-6.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous vaccination is still uncommon in China, and many Chinese people are quite concerned about the adverse reactions because few data regarding the adverse reactions of simultaneous vaccination in Chinese people have been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of simultaneous vaccination and the frequency of adverse reactions following simultaneous vaccinations in Chinese applicants for a United States immigrant visa. METHODS: We conducted a ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Measles published 16 May 2008:

Detection of measles- and mumps-specific IgG antibodies in paired serum and oral fluid samples from Norwegian conscripts.   Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 27(6): 461-5.

The aim of this study was to measure the seroprevalence to mumps in Norwegian conscripts belonging to the first children vaccination cohorts that had been offered two doses of MMR vaccine. The seroprevalence to mumps was 76% with the Microimmune assay and 85% with the Enzygnost assay. We also compared the performance of the Microimmune assay for detection of mumps- and measles-specific IgG antibodies in 340 paired serum and oral fluid samples from the conscripts and evaluated the effect of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Indication of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability in adult-onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).   Neurol Sci, 29(2): 121-4.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare chronic, progressive encephalitis that affects primarily children and young adults, caused by a persistent infection of immune-resistant measles virus. Diagnostic hallmarks include widespread cortical dysfunction on EEG, myoclonus, white matter abnormalities on neuroradiological examination and the presence of IgG anti-measles antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. We present the first case of SSPE with signs of peripheral nerve ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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