Measles Virus (measles + virus)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Terms modified by Measles Virus

  • measles virus infection

  • Selected Abstracts


    Measles virus and Crohn's disease: A critical appraisal of the current literature

    INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 1 2001
    Dr. Douglas J. Robertson
    Abstract The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. Recent reports in the literature have suggested that measles virus, both wild-type and vaccine-attenuated, might be a risk factor for Crohn's disease. We used the well-accepted Bradford-Hill criteria to evaluate the possible causal association between measles and IBD. Although the association may be biologically plausible, the literature lacks consistency, specificity, strength, and dose response. The current literature does not support an association between measles virus and IBD. [source]


    Molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Japan

    PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004
    Tetsuo Nakayama
    AbstractBackground:,Measles virus has been classified into 22 genotypes. The present report examines the molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Japan from 1984 to 2002, and the epidemiological link between imported cases in several foreign countries and Japanese strains was elucidated from the literature. Methods:,B95a or Vero cells was used to isolate the measles virus. The measles virus genome was amplified in the N and H genes by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and were partially sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of a partial sequence of the N gene, from position 1230 to 1685, of the recent measles strains was performed in comparison with the World Health Organization reference strains. Results:,There were large outbreaks of measles in Japan in 1984, 1987,1988, 1991,1993, and 2001,2002 and each outbreak was caused by a different genotype. Genotype C1 was an indigenous strain for a long period before 1985, while D3 was isolated in 1987,1988 and D5 in 1991,1993 outbreaks. In addition, the Chicago-type D3 caused sporadic regional outbreaks from 1998 to 1999. After 2000, H1 became the dominant circulating strain. It should be noted that the Japanese strains were detected as imported cases by epidemiological linkage in several countries. Conclusion:,Among the recent circulating strain of measles virus in Japan the genotype H1 was dominant after 2000 and the Japanese strains D3, D5, and H1 were exported to several countries. It is recommended that Japan should adopt a more extensive and active vaccination strategy for measles elimination in line with other countries in the world. [source]


    Sequence analysis of measles virus strains collected during the pre- and early-vaccination era in Denmark reveals a considerable diversity of ancient strains

    APMIS, Issue 2 2002
    L. Siig Christensen
    A total of 199 serum samples from patients with measles collected in Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands from 1964 to 1983 were analysed by PCR. Measles virus (MV) RNA could be detected in 38 (19%) of the samples and a total of 18 strains were subjected to partial sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin gene. The strains exhibited a considerable genomic diversity, which is at odds with the assumption that one genome type prevailed among globally circulating MV strains prior to the advent of live-attenuated vaccines. Our data indicate that the similarity of the various vaccine strains is attributed to their having originated from the same primary isolate. Consequently, it is implied that a small number of clinical manifestations of MV worldwide from which strains similar to the vaccine strain were identified were vaccine related rather than being caused by members of a persistently circulating ancient genome type. The Danish pre- and early-vaccination era MV strains seem to change the evolutionary spectrum of genome types A, C2 and E into one coherent group, suggesting that the genome types of MV strains circulating in the world at present do not represent far ranging evolutionary lineages but merely members of an evolutionary continuum of pre-vaccination era MV strains which by chance or due to an improved capability survived the worldwide partial herd immunity accomplished through vaccination. [source]


    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: an update

    DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2010
    JOSE GUTIERREZ
    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic encephalitis occurring after infection with measles virus. The prevalence of the disease varies depending on uptake of measles vaccination, with the virus disproportionally affecting regions with low vaccination rates. The physiopathology of the disease is not fully understood; however, there is evidence that it involves factors that favour humoral over cellular immune response against the virus. As a result, the virus is able to infect the neurons and to survive in a latent form for years. The clinical manifestations occur, on average, 6 years after measles virus infection. The onset of SSPE is insidious, and psychiatric manifestations are prominent. Subsequently, myoclonic seizures usually lead to a final stage of akinetic mutism. The diagnosis is clinical, supported by periodic complexes on electroencephalography, brain imaging suggestive of demyelination, and immunological evidence of measles infection. Management of the disease includes seizure control and avoidance of secondary complications associated with the progressive disability. Trials of treatment with interferon, ribavirin, and isoprinosine using different methodologies have reported beneficial results. However, the disease shows relentless progression; only 5% of individuals with SSPE undergo spontaneous remission, with the remaining 95% dying within 5 years of diagnosis. [source]


    MS and clinically isolated syndromes: Shared specificity but diverging clonal patterns of virus-specific IgG antibodies produced in vivo and by CSF B cells in vitro

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2009
    G. Skorstad
    Background:, Intrathecal synthesis of oligoclonal IgG antibodies against measles virus (MeV), varicella zoster virus (VZV) and herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a characteristic feature multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods:, We have used isoelectric focusing-immunoblot to define the clonal patterns of IgG and of IgG antibodies to MeV, VZV and HSV-1 in supernatants of in vitro cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells and in sera and CSF from three patients with MS and three patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) suspective of demyelinating disease. Results:,In vitro synthesis of IgG by PBL was not detected in any patient. In contrast, in vitro synthesis by CSF cells of oligoclonal IgG and oligoclonal IgG antibodies to one or two of the three viruses tested was observed in all six patients. The clonal patterns of the in vitro synthesized IgG and virus specific IgG differed to varying extent from those synthesized intrathecally in vivo. However, in each patient, the in vitro and in vivo intrathecally produced antibodies displayed specificity for the same viruses. The addition of B cell activating factor (BAFF) had no effect on the amounts or clonal patterns of either total IgG or virus-specific IgG produced by CSF cells in vitro. Conclusion:, Virus specific B cells capable of spontaneous IgG synthesis are clonally expanded in the CSF of patients with MS. The B-cell repertoire in CSF samples is only partially representative of the intrathecal B-cell repertoire. [source]


    Engineered measles virus as a novel oncolytic viral therapy system for hepatocellular carcinoma,

    HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
    Boris Blechacz
    The oncolytic measles virus Edmonston strain (MV-Edm), a nonpathogenic virus targeting cells expressing abundant CD46, selectively destroys neoplastic tissue. Clinical development of MV-Edm would benefit from noninvasive monitoring strategies to determine the speed and extent of the spread of the virus in treated patients and the location of virus-infected cells. We evaluated recombinant MV-Edm expressing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS) for oncolytic potential in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and efficiency in tracking viruses in vivo by noninvasive monitoring. CD46 expression in human HCC and primary hepatocytes was assessed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Infectivity, syncytium formation, and cytotoxicity of recombinant MV-Edm in HCC cell lines were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy, crystal violet staining, and the MTS assay. Transgene expression in HCC cell lines after infection with recombinant MV-Edm in vitro and in vivo was assessed by CEA concentration, 125I-uptake, and 123I-imaging studies. Toxicology studies were performed in IfnarKO×CD46 transgenic mice. The CD46 receptor was highly expressed in HCC compared to nonmalignant hepatic tissue. Recombinant MV-Edm efficiently infected HCC cell lines, resulting in extensive syncytium formation followed by cell death. Transduction of HCC cell lines and subcutaneous HCC xenografts with recombinant MV-Edm resulted in high-level expression of transgenes in vitro and in vivo. MV-Edm was nontoxic in susceptible mice. Intratumoral and intravenous therapy with recombinant MV-Edm resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and prolongation of survival with complete tumor regression in up to one third of animals. In conclusion, engineered MV-Edm may be a potent and novel cancer gene therapy system for HCC. MV-Edm expressing CEA or hNIS elicited oncolytic effects in human HCC cell lines in vitro and in vivo, enabling the spread of the virus to be monitored in a noninvasive manner. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:1465,1477.) [source]


    Measles virus and Crohn's disease: A critical appraisal of the current literature

    INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 1 2001
    Dr. Douglas J. Robertson
    Abstract The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. Recent reports in the literature have suggested that measles virus, both wild-type and vaccine-attenuated, might be a risk factor for Crohn's disease. We used the well-accepted Bradford-Hill criteria to evaluate the possible causal association between measles and IBD. Although the association may be biologically plausible, the literature lacks consistency, specificity, strength, and dose response. The current literature does not support an association between measles virus and IBD. [source]


    Multicenter Blinded Analysis of RT-PCR Detection Methods for Paramyxoviruses in Relation to Paget's Disease of Bone,

    JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2007
    Stuart H Ralston MD
    Abstract Conflicting results have been reported on the detection of paramyxovirus transcripts in Paget's disease, and a possible explanation is differences in the sensitivity of RT-PCR methods for detecting virus. In a blinded study, we found no evidence to suggest that laboratories that failed to detect viral transcripts had less sensitive RT-PCR assays, and we did not detect measles or distemper transcripts in Paget's samples using the most sensitive assays evaluated. Introduction: There is conflicting evidence on the possible role of persistent paramyxovirus infection in Paget's disease of bone (PDB). Some workers have detected measles virus (MV) or canine distemper virus (CDV) transcripts in cells and tissues from patients with PDB, but others have failed to confirm this finding. A possible explanation might be differences in the sensitivity of RT-PCR methods for detecting virus. Here we performed a blinded comparison of the sensitivity of different RT-PCR,based techniques for MV and CDV detection in different laboratories and used the most sensitive assays to screen for evidence of viral transcripts in bone and blood samples derived from patients with PDB. Materials and Methods: Participating laboratories analyzed samples spiked with known amounts of MV and CDV transcripts and control samples that did not contain viral nucleic acids. All analyses were performed on a blinded basis. Results: The limit of detection for CDV was 1000 viral transcripts in three laboratories (Aberdeen, Belfast, and Liverpool) and 10,000 transcripts in another laboratory (Manchester). The limit of detection for MV was 16 transcripts in one laboratory (NIBSC), 1000 transcripts in two laboratories (Aberdeen and Belfast), and 10,000 transcripts in two laboratories (Liverpool and Manchester). An assay previously used by a U.S.-based group to detect MV transcripts in PDB had a sensitivity of 1000 transcripts. One laboratory (Manchester) detected CDV transcripts in a negative control and in two samples that had been spiked with MV. None of the other laboratories had false-positive results for MV or CDV, and no evidence of viral transcripts was found on analysis of 12 PDB samples using the most sensitive RT-PCR assays for MV and CDV. Conclusions: We found that RT-PCR assays used by different laboratories differed in their sensitivity to detect CDV and MV transcripts but found no evidence to suggest that laboratories that previously failed to detect viral transcripts had less sensitive RT-PCR assays than those that detected viral transcripts. False-positive results were observed with one laboratory, and we failed to detect paramyxovirus transcripts in PDB samples using the most sensitive assays evaluated. Our results show that failure of some laboratories to detect viral transcripts is unlikely to be caused by problems with assay sensitivity and highlight the fact that contamination can be an issue when searching for pathogens by sensitive RT-PCR,based techniques. [source]


    Absence of detectable measles virus genome sequence in blood of autistic children who have had their MMR vaccination during the routine childhood immunization schedule of UK

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 5 2006
    M.A. Afzal
    Abstract Leukocyte preparations from children with documented evidence of MMR vaccination and confirmed diagnosis of autism were examined by several assays designed to target multiple regions of the measles virus genome sequence. No sample was found positive by any method. The assays applied were highly sensitive, specific and robust in nature, and were based on the amplification of measles virus RNA transcripts by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (QRT-PCR) as well as by conventional RT-PCR-nested PCR. The assays applied were potentially able to detect measles virus RNA down to single figure copy numbers per reaction. The amount of total nucleic acid extract of leukocytes subjected to various measles virus-specific investigations was several fold higher than minimally required of a sample where measles virus persistence is well documented. This study failed to substantiate reports of the persistence of measles virus in autistic children with development regression. J. Med. Virol. 78:623,630, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Investigation of measles and rubella outbreaks in Tamil Nadu, India,2003

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 4 2006
    Nalini Ramamurty
    Abstract The aims of the present study were to confirm measles outbreaks by detection of measles-specific IgM antibodies, isolation of measles virus, and genetic characterization to document the circulating genotypes in Tamil Nadu. Eight outbreaks were reported from six districts of Tamil Nadu, India during the period Jan,Dec 2003. Blood samples were collected for serology, urine, and throat swabs for virus isolation. Genotypic characterization of measles isolates was based on the sequence of the N gene. All the clinically suspected outbreaks (n,=,8) were confirmed by serology; six out of the eight as measles and two as combination of measles and rubella highlighting the need to carry out rubella serology on measles-negative samples. Genetic characterization of three isolates obtained revealed one as genotype D4 and two as D8. Measles genotypes D4 and D8 were found to circulate in three districts of Tamil Nadu. It is necessary to be aware of the circulating genotypes within the geographical area. The information would be valuable to evaluate control measures and identify viral transmission and importation. J. Med. Virol. 78:508,513, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Measles virus protein-specific IgM, IgA, and IgG subclass responses during the acute and convalescent phase of infection

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2004
    H.S. El Mubarak
    Abstract The availability of new generation serological assays allowed re-evaluation of the antibody response to measles virus. IgM, IgA, total IgG, and IgG subclass responses were studied to the three major immunogenic measles virus proteins: the fusion protein (F), haemagglutinin (H), and nucleoprotein (N). Plasma samples were obtained from clinically diagnosed measles cases (n,=,146) in Khartoum (Sudan) within a week after onset of the rash. Convalescent phase samples were collected from 32 of 117 laboratory-confirmed measles cases at different time points after onset of rash. Glycoprotein-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody levels correlated well to the N-specific response. For IgG and IgA, responses to F were higher than to H. IgA antibody levels were undetectable in about one third of the laboratory-confirmed cases during the acute phase, but positive in all patients tested 1,4 weeks after infection. IgM levels declined rapidly and were lost 3,6 months after infection. IgA levels declined slowly during the first year but did not return to background levels during the subsequent 2 years. IgG avidity maturation was detected during a 3,6 month period after infection. The predominant IgG subclasses during the acute phase were IgG1 and IgG3. The latter was lost in the convalescent phase, while the IgG4 isotype showed a slight rise afterwards. Interestingly, acute phase IgG3 and IgA responses were associated, and were only detected in samples with high IgG. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the antibody response to wild-type measles virus infection. J. Med. Virol. 72:290,298, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Co-circulation of two genotypes of measles virus and mutual change of the prevailing genotypes every few years in Osaka, Japan

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2003
    Hideyuki Kubo
    Abstract Genotypes of 44 wild-type measles virus (MV) strains isolated in Osaka, Japan, during 1997,2001, were determined based on phylogenetic analyses of a 456-nt 3, terminal nucleoprotein gene sequence with the reference MV strains designated by the World Health Organization. The wild-type MV strains were classified into two genotypes, D3 and D5, recognized as indigenous in Japan. Six of 12 strains isolated in 1997 were classified into genotype D3 and the other 6 into D5. Eleven of 13 strains were D3, and 2 were D5 in 1998. There were no measles epidemics, and no strains were isolated in 1999. Nine of 10 strains were genotype D5, and only one was D3 in 2000, and 9 of 9 were D5 in 2001. These results indicate that the wild-type MV strains classified into genotypes D3 and D5 co-circulated without the complete change of the MV genotype in Osaka, except in 2001. Furthermore, the prevailing genotype was different between 1998 and 2000,2001. Together with a previous report about MV genotype in this area during 1993,1995, these results suggest that the mutual change of the prevailing wild-type MV genotypes between D3 and D5 occurs every few years in Osaka, Japan. J. Med. Virol. 69:273,278, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Tumor-associated macrophages infiltrate plasmacytomas and can serve as cell carriers for oncolytic measles virotherapy of disseminated myeloma,

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2009
    Kah-Whye Peng
    In multiple myeloma, some of the neoplastic plasma cells are diffusely dispersed among the normal bone marrow cells (bone marrow resident), whereas others are located in discrete, well-vascularized solid tumors (plasmacytomas) that may originate in bone or soft tissue. Interactions between bone marrow-resident myeloma cells and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are important determinants of myeloma pathogenesis. However, little is known of the factors sustaining myeloma growth and cell viability at the centers of expanding plasmacytomas, where there are no BMSCs. Histologic sections of 22 plasmacytomas from myeloma patients were examined after immunostaining. Abundant CD68+, CD163+, S100-negative macrophage infiltrates were identified in all tumors, accompanied by scattered collections of CD3+ T lymphocytes. The CD68+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) accounted for 2,12% of nucleated cells and were evenly distributed through the parenchyma. The TAM generally had dendritic morphology, and each dendrite was in close contact with multiple plasma cells. In some cases, the TAM were strikingly clustered around CD34+ blood vessels. To determine whether cells of the monocytic lineage might be exploitable as carriers for delivery of therapeutic agents to plasmacytomas, primary human CD14+ cells were infected with oncolytic measles virus and administered intravenously to mice bearing KAS6/1 human myeloma xenografts. The cell carriers localized to KAS6/1 tumors, where they transferred MV infection to myeloma cells and prolonged the survival of mice bearing disseminated human myeloma disease. Thus, TAM are a universal stromal component of the plasmacytomas of myeloma patients and may offer a promising new target for therapeutic exploitation. Am. J. Hematol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Japan

    PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2004
    Tetsuo Nakayama
    AbstractBackground:,Measles virus has been classified into 22 genotypes. The present report examines the molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Japan from 1984 to 2002, and the epidemiological link between imported cases in several foreign countries and Japanese strains was elucidated from the literature. Methods:,B95a or Vero cells was used to isolate the measles virus. The measles virus genome was amplified in the N and H genes by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and were partially sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of a partial sequence of the N gene, from position 1230 to 1685, of the recent measles strains was performed in comparison with the World Health Organization reference strains. Results:,There were large outbreaks of measles in Japan in 1984, 1987,1988, 1991,1993, and 2001,2002 and each outbreak was caused by a different genotype. Genotype C1 was an indigenous strain for a long period before 1985, while D3 was isolated in 1987,1988 and D5 in 1991,1993 outbreaks. In addition, the Chicago-type D3 caused sporadic regional outbreaks from 1998 to 1999. After 2000, H1 became the dominant circulating strain. It should be noted that the Japanese strains were detected as imported cases by epidemiological linkage in several countries. Conclusion:,Among the recent circulating strain of measles virus in Japan the genotype H1 was dominant after 2000 and the Japanese strains D3, D5, and H1 were exported to several countries. It is recommended that Japan should adopt a more extensive and active vaccination strategy for measles elimination in line with other countries in the world. [source]


    Considering human,primate transmission of measles virus through the prism of risk analysis

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
    Lisa Jones-Engel
    Abstract Measles is a respiratory virus that is endemic to humans. Human,nonhuman primate (NHP) transmission of the measles virus has been shown to cause significant morbidity and mortality in NHP populations. We investigated serological evidence of exposure to measles virus in two free-ranging populations of macaques at the Bukit Timah (BTNR) and Central Catchment Nature (CCNR) reserves in Singapore and the Swoyambhu Temple in Katmandu, Nepal. At BTNR/CCNR none of the 38 macaques (Macaca fascicularis) sampled were seropositive for antibodies to measles virus. In contrast, at Swoyambhu 100% (n=39) of the macaques (M. mulatta) sampled were seropositive for antibodies to the measles virus. Here the contrasting seroprevalences of the two sites are analyzed using risk analysis. These case studies show how risk analysis can be used to approach the phenomenon of cross-species pathogen transmission. Am. J. Primatol. 68:868,879, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Two Subgroups of Stapes Fixation: Otosclerosis and Pseudo-Otosclerosis,

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 11 2005
    Tamás Karosi MD
    Abstract Hypothesis: Stapes ankylosis is a disease with variable histopathology and can be caused by otosclerosis or pseudo-otosclerosis. Viral pathogenesis of otosclerosis could be established only by correlative analysis: histologic examination of the stapes footplate and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the viral RNA. Background: Presence of the RNA genome of measles virus was demonstrated in the footplates of clinically otosclerotic patients by RT-PCR, and also viral proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry. Methods: Nucleic acids were extracted from ankylotic stapes footplates of clinically stapes fixation patients (n = 104). Measles virus genomic nucleoprotein (NP) RNA was amplified by seminested RT-PCR. Amplification results were correlated to postoperative histologic and audiologic findings. Results: Measles virus RNA was detectable only in histologically otosclerotic stapes footplates (n = 67). Histology for virus negative footplates (n = 37) excluded otosclerosis. Virus negative stapes footplates showed nonotosclerotic, degenerative disorders. Conclusions: Stapes ankylosis is a heterogeneous disease causing conductive hearing loss with different etiologies. Nonotosclerotic stapes fixations could be established as pseudo-otosclerosis and may belong to nonspecific, degenerative disorders with variable and noncharacteristic histopathology. Otosclerosis is an inflammatory disease caused by persisting measles virus infection of the otic cap-sule. [source]


    Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the trimer core from measles virus fusion protein

    ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 3 2003
    Jieqing Zhu
    Two heptad-repeat regions (HR1 and HR2) are highly conserved in paramyxovirus fusion proteins and form a stable helical trimer of heterodimers [(HR1,HR2)3] after the fusion between viral and cellular membranes. In this study, two HR regions of the fusion protein of measles virus, a member of the paramyxoviruses, were selected and overexpressed as a single chain (named 2-Helix) connected by an amino-acid linker using a GST-fusion expression system in Escherichia coli. Crystals of 2-Helix protein (GST removed) could be obtained from many conditions using the sitting- or hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. A complete data set was collected in-house to 1.9,Å resolution from a single crystal. The crystal belongs to space group P6, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 51.637, c = 67.058,Å. To facilitate the crystal structure solution, SeMet-substituted 2-Helix crystals, grown under similar conditions to the native, were also obtained and diffracted X-rays to 1.8,Å using synchrotron radiation. [source]


    Immune synapses formed with measles virus-infected dendritic cells are unstable and fail to sustain T cell activation

    CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 8 2007
    Yoanna Shishkova
    Summary Interaction with dendritic cells (DCs) is considered as central to immunosuppression induced by viruses, including measles virus (MV). Commonly, viral infection of DCs abrogates their ability to promote T cell expansion, yet underlying mechanisms at a cellular level are undefined. We found that MV-infected DCs only subtly differed from LPS-matured with regard to integrin activation, acquisition of a migratory phenotype and motility. Similarly, the organization of MV-DC/T cell interfaces was consistent with that of functional immune synapses with regard to CD3 clustering and MHC class II surface recruitment. The majority of MV-DC/T cell conjugates was, however, unstable and only promoted abortive T cell activation. Thus, MV-infected DCs retain activities required for initiating, but not sustaining T cell conjugation and activation. This is partially rescued if surface expression of the MV glycoproteins on DCs is abolished by infection with a recombinant MV encoding VSV G protein instead, indicating that these contribute directly to synapse destabilization and thereby act as effectors of T cell inhibition. [source]


    Measles virus nucleocapsid transport to the plasma membrane requires stable expression and surface accumulation of the viral matrix protein

    CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
    Nicole Runkler
    Summary In measles virus (MV)-infected cells the matrix (M) protein plays a key role in virus assembly and budding processes at the plasma membrane because it mediates the contact between the viral surface glycoproteins and the nucleocapsids. By exchanging valine 101, a highly conserved residue among all paramyxoviral M proteins, we generated a recombinant MV (rMV) from cloned cDNA encoding for a M protein with an increased intracellular turnover. The mutant rMV was barely released from the infected cells. This assembly defect was not due to a defective M binding to other matrix- or nucleoproteins, but could rather be assigned to a reduced ability to associate with cellular membranes, and more importantly, to a defective accumulation at the plasma membrane which was accompanied by the deficient transport of nucleocapsids to the cell surface. Thus, we show for the first time that M stability and accumulation at intracellular membranes is a prerequisite for M and nucleocapsid co-transport to the plasma membrane and for subsequent virus assembly and budding processes. [source]


    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis after intrauterine infection

    ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2004
    M Dasopoulou
    Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), in the majority of cases, is caused by the wild measles virus, although there are some reports relating SSPE to vaccination. This paper presents an inborn that was infected during pregnancy by the measles virus and developed SSPE within the first year of life after a short incubation period. He progressed rapidly after a mild arrest with treatment. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a fatal degenerative disease and, although it had largely disappeared because of nearly universal measles vaccination, it still remains a serious infection among children affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The lack of newer cases of SSPE occurring among normal children nowadays should not wane alertness by obstetricians and paediatricians, to recognize the risk with measles during pregnancy and the need for prevention and recognition of SSPE at an early stage. Although some references exist which report on SSPE cases related to vaccination, new work weakens the possible links between measles vaccine and SSPE. Conclusion: This report would like to stress the importance and success of reducing the SSPE problem with the aid of general measles vaccination with high coverage. [source]