-
Current Topics in Microbiology and... 2009Genetic characterization of wild-type measles viruses provides a means to study the transmission pathways of the virus and is an essential component of laboratory-based... (Review)
Review
Genetic characterization of wild-type measles viruses provides a means to study the transmission pathways of the virus and is an essential component of laboratory-based surveillance. Laboratory-based surveillance for measles and rubella, including genetic characterization of wild-type viruses, is performed throughout the world by the WHO Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which serves 166 countries in all WHO regions. In particular, the genetic data can help confirm the sources of virus or suggest a source for unknown-source cases as well as to establish links, or lack thereof, between various cases and outbreaks. Virologic surveillance has helped to document the interruption of transmission of endemic measles in some regions. Thus, molecular characterization of measles viruses has provided a valuable tool for measuring the effectiveness of measles control programs, and virologic surveillance needs to be expanded in all areas of the world and conducted during all phases of measles control.
Topics: Disease Notification; Disease Outbreaks; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Global Health; Humans; Measles; Measles virus; Molecular Epidemiology; Phylogeny
PubMed: 19203108
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-70617-5_7 -
Intervirology 1997Acute measles is a classic infectious disease of childhood with worldwide distribution. Its causative agent, measles virus (MV), is an efficient pathogen, persisting in... (Review)
Review
Acute measles is a classic infectious disease of childhood with worldwide distribution. Its causative agent, measles virus (MV), is an efficient pathogen, persisting in nature in populations large enough to support it, even though it is able to cause an acute infection in any individual only once in his lifetime. The characteristic clinical hallmarks of measles, fever and rash, coincide with antiviral immune response. MV-specific T lymphocyte and antibody responses contribute to virus clearance and protection from reinfection, respectively. Concomitant with immune activation immunologic abnormalities arise during MV infection. The ensuing suppression of cellular immune responses is presumably responsible for increased susceptibility to other infections. Additionally, central nervous system (CNS) complications of MV infection with different pathogenesis occur. Autoimmune disease may appear in the form of acute measles encephalomyelitis. Furthermore, MV may persist in the CNS in rare cases without periodic shedding of infectious virus. Measles inclusion body encephalitis can develop on the basis of inadequate virus-specific cell-mediated immune responses and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis occurs many years after primary measles as a slow virus infection. Host cell factors operating in cells of the CNS together with mutations particularly in genes coding for viral envelope proteins initiate and maintain the persistent state of infection with a viral replication cycle that is attenuated at the transcriptional and translational level.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Central Nervous System Infections; Humans; Measles; Measles virus; Neurons; Virus Replication
PubMed: 9450234
DOI: 10.1159/000150544 -
Current Opinion in Virology Dec 2012This review takes a general approach to describing host cell factors that facilitate measles virus (MeV) infection and replication. It relates our current understanding... (Review)
Review
This review takes a general approach to describing host cell factors that facilitate measles virus (MeV) infection and replication. It relates our current understanding of MeV entry receptors, with emphasis on how these host cell surface proteins contribute to pathogenesis within its host. The roles of SLAM/CD150 lymphocyte receptor and the newly discovered epithelial receptor PVRL4/nectin-4 are highlighted. Host cell factors such as HSP72, Prdx1, tubulin, casein kinase, and actin, which are known to impact viral RNA synthesis and virion assembly, are also discussed. Finally the review describes strategies used by measles virus to circumvent innate immunity and confound the effects of interferon within the host cell. Proteomic studies and genome wide RNAi screens will undoubtedly advance our knowledge in the future.
Topics: Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immune Evasion; Measles virus; Virus Internalization; Virus Replication
PubMed: 23146309
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2012.10.008 -
Current Gene Therapy Jun 2008Viral vector systems are widely being used in the development of new genetic approaches for a variety of human diseases. Oncolytic viruses have shown great potential as... (Review)
Review
Viral vector systems are widely being used in the development of new genetic approaches for a variety of human diseases. Oncolytic viruses have shown great potential as cancer therapeutics. The ideal viral vector for cancer gene therapy eradicates a clinically significant fraction of malignant cells and leaves normal tissues unharmed. The Edmonston vaccine strain of measles virus is a replicating RNA virus which is characterized by its tumor selectivity and oncolysis. Its strong tumor suppressive potential combined with its excellent safety record as a viral vaccine makes it an optimal platform for oncolytic virotherapy of cancer. Recent advances in genetic engineering of measles virus allow insertion of therapeutic and diagnostic transgenes as well as complete retargeting of measles virus. These strategies resulted in the generation of recombinant measles viruses allowing non-invasive monitoring of viral replication and viral spread. The immune defense is a significant barrier for efficient viral gene therapy. Immune-evasive strategies have successfully been developed for measles virus enhancing its efficacy. This review gives an overview of measles virus as an anticancer agent; in particular, its use in oncologic virotherapy as well as new developments in targeting and immune evasive strategies.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Female; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Genetic Engineering; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Male; Measles Vaccine; Measles virus; Neoplasms; Oncolytic Virotherapy
PubMed: 18537591
DOI: 10.2174/156652308784746459 -
Current Opinion in Virology Apr 2020The innate immune system is the first line of defense against infections with pathogens. It provides direct antiviral mechanisms to suppress the viral life cycle at... (Review)
Review
The innate immune system is the first line of defense against infections with pathogens. It provides direct antiviral mechanisms to suppress the viral life cycle at multiple steps. Innate immune cells are specialized to recognize pathogen infections and activate and modulate adaptive immune responses through antigen presentation, co-stimulation and release of cytokines and chemokines. Measles virus, which causes long-lasting immunosuppression and immune-amnesia, primarily infects and replicates in innate and adaptive immune cells, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells and B cells. To achieve efficient replication, measles virus has evolved multiple mechanisms to manipulate innate immune responses by both stimulation and blocking of specific signals necessary for antiviral immunity. This review will highlight our current knowledge in this and address open questions.
Topics: Animals; Cytokines; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Measles; Measles virus; Virus Replication
PubMed: 32330821
DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.03.001 -
Reviews in Medical Virology 2005The use of replicating viruses for cancer therapy is attracting increasing interest. Numerous viruses are now being considered as potential cancer therapeutics,... (Review)
Review
The use of replicating viruses for cancer therapy is attracting increasing interest. Numerous viruses are now being considered as potential cancer therapeutics, including the vaccine strain of measles virus (MV). The attenuated strain of measles readily lyses transformed cells, whilst replication and lysis are limited in normal human cells. It has a number of features which make it highly suitable for further development as an oncolytic agent, among them stability and a long history of safety in human use. These features are being combined with its ready potential for genetic manipulations to generate recombinant MVs with desirable therapeutic attributes. This review summarises the pre-clinical studies of the oncolytic efficacy of MV to date. Promising developments in MV engineering--such as re-targeting MV entry to specific cell types and enhancing its utility as a therapeutic agent by expression of non-viral proteins--as well as outstanding issues, such as the role of anti-MV immunity, are highlighted.
Topics: Animals; Genetic Engineering; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Measles Vaccine; Measles virus; Neoplasms; Recombination, Genetic; Safety; Virus Replication
PubMed: 15546127
DOI: 10.1002/rmv.455 -
Viruses Oct 2016Morbilliviruses share considerable structural and functional similarities. Even though disease severity varies among the respective host species, the underlying... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Morbilliviruses share considerable structural and functional similarities. Even though disease severity varies among the respective host species, the underlying pathogenesis and the clinical signs are comparable. Thus, insights gained with one morbillivirus often apply to the other members of the genus. Since the (CDV) causes severe and often lethal disease in dogs and ferrets, it is an attractive model to characterize morbillivirus pathogenesis mechanisms and to evaluate the efficacy of new prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. This review compares the cellular tropism, pathogenesis, mechanisms of persistence and immunosuppression of the (MeV) and CDV. It then summarizes the contributions made by studies on the CDV in dogs and ferrets to our understanding of MeV pathogenesis and to vaccine and drugs development.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Distemper Virus, Canine; Dogs; Ferrets; Humans; Immune Evasion; Immune Tolerance; Measles virus; Viral Tropism
PubMed: 27727184
DOI: 10.3390/v8100274 -
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Oct 2002As important determinants of measles virus (MV) pathogenicity, the MV glycoproteins play a key role in conferring the cellular tropism of this virus, but also in... (Review)
Review
As important determinants of measles virus (MV) pathogenicity, the MV glycoproteins play a key role in conferring the cellular tropism of this virus, but also in modulating the activity of immunocompetent cells. Whereas all MV strains are able to use CD150 (SLAM) for binding and entry into target cells, only certain, mainly vaccine, strains, can use both CD46 and CD150. Both molecules are down-regulated from the cell surface and this is brought about by both infection and contact with the MV H protein of strains that are able to interact with these molecules. Whereas down-regulation of CD46 could be linked to enhanced sensitivity to complement-mediated lysis, and may thus represent an attenuation marker for vaccine strains, pathogenetic consequences of CD150 down-regulation are unknown as yet. Although the role of CD150 is not entirely clear, viruses containing a wild-type strain-derived H protein revealed a particular tropism for human dendritic cells in vitro, and replicated well in secondary lymphatic tissues of cotton rats where they were also able to cause immunosuppression, as documented by an impaired proliferative response of lymphocytes ex vivo. Most likely, inhibition of T cell expansion by these cells is brought about by another activity of the MV glycoprotein complex, namely by disrupting a pathway important for S-phase entry of T cells, by a mere surface contact.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Antigens, CD; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Immunosuppression Therapy; Measles; Measles virus; Membrane Cofactor Protein; Membrane Glycoproteins; Receptors, Virus; Signal Transduction; Tropism
PubMed: 12410346
DOI: 10.1007/s00430-002-0121-6 -
Virus Research Aug 2005As measles virus causes subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and measles inclusion body encephalitis due to its ability to establish human persistent infection, without... (Review)
Review
As measles virus causes subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and measles inclusion body encephalitis due to its ability to establish human persistent infection, without symptoms for the time between the acute infection and the onset of clinical symptoms, it has been the paradigm for a long term persistent as opposed to chronic infection by an RNA virus. We have reviewed the mechanisms of persistence of the virus and discuss specific mutations associated with CNS infection affecting the matrix and fusion protein genes. These are placed in the context of our current understanding of the viral replication cycle. We also consider the proposed mechanisms of persistence of the virus in replicating cell cultures and conclude that no general mechanistic model can be derived from our current state of knowledge. Finally, we indicate how reverse genetics approaches and the use of mouse models with specific knock-out and knock-in modifications can further our understanding of measles virus persistence.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Cell Line; HeLa Cells; Humans; Measles virus; Mice; Neurons; Receptors, Virus; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis; Virus Replication
PubMed: 15893837
DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2005.04.005 -
Viruses Apr 2016Antigenic drift and genetic variation are significantly constrained in measles virus (MeV). Genetic stability of MeV is exceptionally high, both in the lab and in the... (Review)
Review
Antigenic drift and genetic variation are significantly constrained in measles virus (MeV). Genetic stability of MeV is exceptionally high, both in the lab and in the field, and few regions of the genome allow for rapid genetic change. The regions of the genome that are more tolerant of mutations (i.e., the untranslated regions and certain domains within the N, C, V, P, and M proteins) indicate genetic plasticity or structural flexibility in the encoded proteins. Our analysis reveals that strong constraints in the envelope proteins (F and H) allow for a single serotype despite known antigenic differences among its 24 genotypes. This review describes some of the many variables that limit the evolutionary rate of MeV. The high genomic stability of MeV appears to be a shared property of the Paramyxovirinae, suggesting a common mechanism that biologically restricts the rate of mutation.
Topics: Adaptation, Biological; Animals; Antigenic Variation; Genetic Variation; Genomic Instability; Genotype; Humans; Measles; Measles virus; Mutation; Open Reading Frames; Serogroup; Untranslated Regions; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 27110809
DOI: 10.3390/v8040109