Live Measles Vaccine Research Articles

A new field trial with two types of live measles vaccine in rural regions of Iran

A new field trial with two types of live measles vaccine in rural regions of Iran

A Measles Outbreak in a New England Community

Between May 30 and June 29, 1974, 28 cases of measles occurred in schoolchildren in a residential New England community. The index patient probably contracted the disease on a school field trip 11 days before the onset of her illness. Of the other 27 cases, 15 had received live measles vaccine before age 1, and ten had no history of vaccination or disease. Four documented vaccine failures did occur in children vaccinated after age 1, but this was not an unusual number compared with the total number of vaccinees evaluated during the investigation. Control measures for susceptible persons including vaccination or modifying doses of immune serum globulin for exposure occurring more than 24 hours earlier. No additional cases of measles were reported for one month after the epidemic.

Localization of specific antigen in organs of animals vaccinated with live measles vaccine

There was a short-lived localization of the antigen of the attenuated measles virus in the neurons and the vessels of the brain in the newborn mice and hamsters inoculated subcutaneously with live measles vaccine. In adult animals the virus specific antigen was revealed in the lymphoid system only. As to the brain tissue of the inoculated animals, the symptoms of serous meningitis and vascular disturbances were observed for a brief period of time. The vaccinal measles virus was not isolated from the brain tissue with the aid of the biotest on tissue culture.

Guillain-Barré syndrome following administration of live measles vaccine

In a 19 month old girl and a 10 month old girl the Guillain-Barré syndrome developed within a week after they received, respectively, live measles-rubella vaccine and live measles vaccine. The older child was immune to rubella at the time of vaccination, but both girls demonstrated a primary measles antibody response. Serum obtained during the acute and convalescent stages from the younger child was tested for antibodies against the herpes viruses (herpes simplex, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster) and found to be negative.

Vaccination of infants in their first year of life with split inactivated measles vaccine incorporated in a diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-polio (inactivated) vaccine (DPTP-M), compared with live measles vaccination

A study was carried out to evaluate the clinical reactions and immunological response produced in children to three measles vaccines, two of which were inactivated (KV) and the third one live vaccine (LV). The inactivated vaccine was a split vaccine prepared by Tweenether treatment. The vaccines were given in three different schedules to 1200 children in their first year of life. The two inactivated measles vaccines, produced respectively by the Behringwerke AG and the Rijks Instituut voor de Volksgezondheid, were incorporated along with diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus- and inactivated polio vaccine into a quintuple vaccine (DPTP-M). The live measles vaccine which was prepared from a further attenuated strain (Attenuvax), was given separately. DPTP-M did not elicit more clinical reactions, general nor local, than DPTP. The reactogenicity of LV was only manifested by a rash in 7% of the vaccinees. The rash did not occur, however, when DPTP-M was given before LV. Atypical measles was not observed in children who had first received DPTP-M vaccine followed by LV, nor in those who were naturally infected with measles after vaccination with DPTP-M vaccine. The children who were vaccinated with three doses of DPTP-M vaccine in the first year of life showed a protection against a natural infection in the second half year. When a fourth (booster) dose of DPTP-M was administered at the age of 12 months, the mean HI antibody titers were similar to those found after one dose of live vaccine. The highest mean measles antibody titers were found in the two subgroups of children vaccinated with LV 6 months after the third dose of DPTP-M. However, 1 year after the last injection of measles vaccine, the antibody titers as well as the percentage of seropositives had declined notably in the four groups of children who had received DPTP-M. Lower titers were observed also in the two subgroups of children who received three doses of KV and one dose of LV. On the other hand the mean antibody titer as a result of live vaccine administration was higher 1 year after the vaccination than at the age of 12 months.

Long-Term Follow-up for Immunity After Monovalent or Combined Live Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccines

Antibody in human subjects persisted without substantial decline for 8 years after mumps vaccine (Jeryl Lynn), for 6 years after measles (Attenuvax), for 5 1/2 years after rubella vaccine (HPV-77 duck), for 5 years after measles-mumps-rubella and mumps-rubella combined vaccines, for 4 years after measles and rubella, and for 2 years after measles-mumps vaccines, the longest periods tested. Protective immunity against mumps illness persisted through the eighth year. The patterns for antibody following vaccination parallel those for natural infection and indicate that immunity will be lasting. Subclinical reinfection evidenced by antibody increase was commonly seen in persons who had been vaccinated, much as follows the natural infection.

Occurrence of antibodies against envelope components after immunization with formalin inactivated and live measles vaccine

Sera from children immunized with inactivated and/or live measles vaccine during the trial arranged by the Medical Research Council in England in 1964 were analysed for antibodies against the haemagglutinin and against a separate envelope component, the haemolysin. All 14 children who had received only live virus vaccine produced antibodies against both components. In contrast out of 20 children who had received killed vaccine followed by live vaccine and all had demonstrable haemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibodies, only 3 had haemolysis-inhibiting (HLI) antibodies distinguishable from the HI antibodies. Six children devoid of non-HI HLI antibodies were exposed to wild measles virus and developed antibodies to both envelope components of the virus. These findings give further support to the decision to not use an immunization schedule comprising of killed followed by live measles vaccine.

Persistence of Bacteriophages in Experimentally Infected Cell Cultures

A bacteriophage, isolated from a live measles vaccine and designated ϕV-1 L , was intentionally introduced into cell culture systems. The bacterial virus persisted in the cell cultures after daily medium changes and trypsinization, and in cell lysates prepared by freezing and thawing. The results suggest that phages contaminating cell cultures may be carried over into the final product during the manufacture of viral vaccines.

SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS AND MEASLES VACCINE

The mean interval between measles and onset of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is approximately 6 years. Death usually occurs in 6 to 12 months thereafter. Measles virus may be recovered from brain tissues at time of biopsy and autopsy. High measles antibody titers are present in the serum and spinal fluid. The use of killed and live measles vaccines for young children has introduced the possibility that the vaccines may cause the disease or stimulate expression of a latent infection. A history of measles infection was documented in 114 of the 200 patients with SSPE. The mean incubation period between time of measles infection and onset of SSPE was 6 years ± 2.5 years. The administration of measles vaccine following measles infection did not effect this interval. In this population there was no evidence that measles vaccine shortened the “incubation period” of SSPE.

Experimental study of a further attenuated live measles vaccine of the Sugiyama strain in Iran.

After encouraging results of the mass vaccination programme in Iran, in which 5 million children in rural areas were vaccinated with the Japanese Sugiyama strain at its 82nd passage in baby calf kidney, and a progressive decrease in the incidence of measles as well as a reduction of excessive infant mortality, a further attenuated vaccine, produced with the same strain, cloned in Japan, was compared in a field trial with the parent vaccine. The new strain caused fewer reactions than the original strain. Seroconversion with a geometric mean antibody titre of 6.1 was observed in 95% of susceptible children.

Experimental study of a further attenuated live measles vaccine of the Sugiyama strain in Iran

Abstract After encouraging results of the mass vaccination programme in Iran, in which 5 million children in rural areas were vaccinated with the Japanese Sugiyama strain at its 82nd passage in baby calf kidney, and a progressive decrease in the incidence of measles as well as a reduction of excessive infant mortality, a further attenuated vaccine, produced with the same strain, cloned in Japan, was compared in a field trial with the parent vaccine. The new strain caused fewer reactions than the original strain. Seroconversion with a geometric mean antibody titre of 6·1 was observed in 95% of susceptible children.

Persistence of Bacteriophages in Experimentally Infected Cell Cultures

A bacteriophage, isolated from a live measles vaccine and designated varphiV-1(L), was intentionally introduced into cell culture systems. The bacterial virus persisted in the cell cultures after daily medium changes and trypsinization, and in cell lysates prepared by freezing and thawing. The results suggest that phages contaminating cell cultures may be carried over into the final product during the manufacture of viral vaccines.

A clinical and serologic study of 103 children with measles vaccine failure

During the spring of 1971, 103 children with measles vaccine failure were studied. Seventy-six children had typical measles, 15 had mild modified measles, and 12 had an illness resembling the atypical measles syndrome; 6 of these latter 12 patients had previously received only live measles vaccine. Eighty-seven patients had serologic evidence of recent measles infection; 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) treatment of the acute-phase sera from these children revealed different antibody patterns by clinical category. The majority of sera from typical measles cases had ≥4-fold reduction in titer with 2-ME treatment, whereas the majority of sera from modified and atypical cases had no reduction in titer with 2-ME treatment. The acute-phase sera of 15 patients with vaccine failure were found to contain only gamma-G measles antibody when separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Thirteen of these sera were from children with modified or atypical illnesses. These findings suggest that some vaccine failures occur in patients who were antigenically simulated previously by measles virus and that illness in these children is likely to be less severe. During the spring of 1971, 103 children with measles vaccine failure were studied. Seventy-six children had typical measles, 15 had mild modified measles, and 12 had an illness resembling the atypical measles syndrome; 6 of these latter 12 patients had previously received only live measles vaccine. Eighty-seven patients had serologic evidence of recent measles infection; 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) treatment of the acute-phase sera from these children revealed different antibody patterns by clinical category. The majority of sera from typical measles cases had ≥4-fold reduction in titer with 2-ME treatment, whereas the majority of sera from modified and atypical cases had no reduction in titer with 2-ME treatment. The acute-phase sera of 15 patients with vaccine failure were found to contain only gamma-G measles antibody when separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Thirteen of these sera were from children with modified or atypical illnesses. These findings suggest that some vaccine failures occur in patients who were antigenically simulated previously by measles virus and that illness in these children is likely to be less severe.

Cytogenetic studies on patients with virus infection and on subjects vaccinated against measles.

Chromosome studies were done on peripheral blood preparations from patients with three different viral infections, i.e., measles, chickenpox and mumps. Blood samples from subjects who were inoculated with live measles vaccine were also subjected to the study. In patients with viral infection, no significant evidence for either numerical or morphological changes of chromosomes was obtained, except in a few cases. There was also no chromosome damage nor depressed response to phytohemagglutinin in leukocytes from subjects who received immunization with attenuated measles vaccine. The nature of the discrepancy between the present result and the results of hitherto reported studies in regard to chromosomal aberrations in viral infection was discussed.

Effects of induced interferon upon cells of cervical carcinoma in situ.

Interferon may be induced in cervical carcinoma <i>in situ</i> by inoculation of either live virus measles vaccine or the synthetic polynucleotide, Poly I: C. Changes were observed in tumor cells with no changes in normal cells and tissues. Tumor cell changes were characterized by ‘punched-out’ holes in nuclei, vacuoles in the cytoplasm and elimination of nuclear DNA in altered cells. A high local concentration of Poly I: C in the region of the localized <i>in situ</i> lesions, it is believed, leads to interferon production by cells in or adjacent to the cancer producing antiviral influence presumably affecting viral components in tumor cells. In previous studies of antitumor effects of Poly I: C in advanced human malignancies, it was concluded by other investigators that the dosage was too low to affect recognizable changes in tumors. Poly I: C is regarded as a significant experiment directly upon tumor cells revealing effects of interferon upon human cells of this early cancer type.

Measles immunity: Reimmunization of children who previously received live measles vaccine and gamma globulin

Ninety children, ages 7 to 13 years, who had received Edmonston B live measles vaccine and gamma globulin simultaneously 6 to 9 years ago were reimmunized and their antibody responses were examined. Twenty-three of the 90 children had no pre-reimmunization hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody and had a primary response to “reimmunization”. All of these primary responders were less than a year of age at the time of initial immunization. Ninety children, ages 7 to 13 years, who had received Edmonston B live measles vaccine and gamma globulin simultaneously 6 to 9 years ago were reimmunized and their antibody responses were examined. Twenty-three of the 90 children had no pre-reimmunization hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody and had a primary response to “reimmunization”. All of these primary responders were less than a year of age at the time of initial immunization.

Measles Vaccine and Its Use in Developing Countries

This chapter reviews the mortality of measles and the economic impact of the disease in developing countries to appreciate the usefulness of live measles vaccine and the justification for the conduct of mass campaigns against measles in developing countries. The first batch of live measles vaccine was prepared for human inoculation using as a seed virus, fluid from a chick-cell culture passage. Live measles vaccines have been used in several developing countries in Asia, Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe. The efficacy of the vaccine in the prevention of measles has been demonstrated in these countries both in clinical trials and in mass campaigns. Simultaneous or combined vaccination against measles and other viral and bacterial diseases have been proved to be practical in several field trials. The combination of live measles vaccine with smallpox vaccine has been used widely. The combined use of either live measles vaccine and smallpox or live measles vaccine with both smallpox and yellow fever vaccines has given a good result in Upper-Volta children and is practiced routinely.

A new test of delayed hypersensitivity to measles virus in vitro

The purpose of these studies was to develop an in vitro method for the demonstration of delayed hypersensitivity to measles virus. Using cell lines chronically infected with measles virus, a lymphocyte-target cell interaction was studied, using morphology or Cr51 release as an end point. Preliminary morphologic studies employing control and chronically infected HeLa cells indicated a greater cytotoxic effect with lymphocytes from children previously immunized with live measles vaccine than in unimmunized controls. All subsequent studies employed two human fibroblast lines, one infected (WI-M1) and one normal (WI-38). The WI-Ml carries measles antigen at the cell surface in steady state replication. Modifying the cytotoxic method of Holm and Perlmann, lymphocytes purified by glass bead adsorption were added to Cr51 labelled target cells in a ratio of 100:1. The release of Cr51 in excess of background was interpreted as a measure of lymphocytotoxic factor. The percentage release of Cr51 from WI-M1-38 and WI-38 cells was determined in a group of 8 seropositive adults with no history of clinical measles. The results showed that lymphocytes from the adults with measles effected as much as a 13% increase in Cr51 release from WI-M1 as compared to WI-38 cells. The lymphocytes from the two individuals with negative histories showed a much diminished release. These results indicate that the measurement of lymphocytotoxic response may be a useful in vitro method for studying delayed hypersensitivity to measles virus.

A comparative study of two live measles vaccines in Iran

A comparative study of two live measles vaccines in Iran

Altered reactivity to measles virus: Skin test reactivity and antibody response to measles virus antigens in recipients of killed measles virus vaccine

Serum antibody response and skin test reactivity to intradermal measles antigens were studied in 3 groups of children who differed in their prior experience with natural measles or measles vaccines. Children who had received killed measles virus vaccine in the past had an almost universal skin test reactivity to killed measles antigen. Almost 2/3 of this group lacked serum antibody prior to intradermal testing; almost all responded to challenge with significant increase in serum antibody. In contrast, children who had measles previously or had been given live measles vaccine had no skin test reactivity and had detectable serum antibody. These data and others cited suggest that delayed hypersensitivity is responsible for the altered reactivity in some recipients of killed measles vaccine.