Measles Vaccines: Novel Generations And New Strategies

Abstract

Although the introduction of live attenuated measles vaccines in industrialized countries in the 1960s has largely contributed to the control of measles, the disease remains a major cause of serious disease and mortality in many developing countries. This is largely because of low vaccine coverage and interference by maternally derived antibodies. To overcome these problems, new vaccination strategies and novel generations of vaccines should be developed. Among the approaches presently considered are the use of different routes of application of new attenuated measles and recombinant viruses and of viral subunits presented with new adjuvant systems. To evaluate the potential of these new approaches in terms of protective mechanisms, efficacy, and safety, a recently evaluated macaque model of measles virus infection may be expected to be a potent tool.

Protective Immunity in Macaques Vaccinated with a Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara-Based Measles Virus Vaccine in the Presence of Passively Acquired Antibodies

“…In recent years, a number of new generation candidate MV vaccines have been developed, including immune stimulating complexes (iscoms), DNA vaccines, and recombinant poxviruses (17). An iscom-based vaccine proved to be effective in inducing protective immunity in macaques even in the presence of passively acquired MV-neutralizing antibodies (26).…”

Serological and Virological Characterization of Clinically Diagnosed Cases of Measles in Suburban Khartoum

“…Although the introduction of live attenuated MV vaccines has largely abrogated the endemic circulation of wildtype MV in the industrialized world, vaccination has been less successful in large areas of Africa and Asia (4). This is thought to be the combined result of insufficient vaccination coverage due to limited infrastructure and/or political instability and inherent disadvantages of the live attenuated vaccine such as the need for cold chain maintenance and the interference by maternal antibodies (5,17).…”

Sequence analysis of the nucleocapsid gene of measles virus isolates from South Africa identifies a new genotype.

“…Although detailed patients' histories and information about possible contact to vaccinees was not available, these strains reflect cases of a wt measles infection caused by a vaccine-like virus. So far, clinical signs of infection following vaccination have been reported to be subclinical, milder and shorter than those of a natural infection (Osterhaus et al, 1994). Further characterization of these isolates including sequencing of the fusion and haemagglutinin genes is in progress.…”