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A Recombinant Measles Vaccine with Enhanced Resistance to Passive Immunity
Emily Julik1,2, Jorge Reyes-Del Valle3,4
1School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. ejjulik@umn.edu.
Abstract:
Current measles vaccines suffer from poor effectiveness in young infants due primarily to the inhibitory effect of residual maternal immunity on vaccine responses. The development of a measles vaccine that resists such passive immunity would strongly contribute to the stalled effort toward measles eradication. In this concise communication, we show that a measles virus (MV) with enhanced hemagglutinin (H) expression and incorporation, termed MVvac2-H2, retained its enhanced immunogenicity, previously established in older mice, when administered to very young, genetically modified, MV-susceptible mice in the presence of passive anti-measles immunity. This immunity level mimics the sub-neutralizing immunity prevalent in infants too young to be vaccinated. Additionally, toward a more physiological small animal model of maternal anti-measles immunity interference, we document vertical transfer of passive anti-MV immunity in genetically-modified, MV susceptible mice and show in this physiological model a better MVvac2-H2 immunogenic profile than that of the parental vaccine strain. In sum, these data support the notion that enhancing MV hemagglutinin incorporation can circumvent in vivo neutralization. This strategy merits additional exploration as an alternative pediatric measles vaccine.
Insights
A new measles vaccine (MVvac2-H2) shows promise for young infants by overcoming maternal immunity interference. Enhancing hemagglutinin expression improves vaccine effectiveness against measles virus.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Current measles vaccines are less effective in infants due to maternal antibodies.
- Developing a measles vaccine resistant to passive immunity is crucial for eradication efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel measles virus (MV) vaccine (MVvac2-H2) with enhanced hemagglutinin expression in young mice with passive immunity.
- To assess the immunogenicity of MVvac2-H2 in a physiological model of maternal antibody interference.
Main Methods:
- Administered MVvac2-H2 to young, genetically modified, measles virus-susceptible mice with passive anti-measles immunity.
- Documented vertical transfer of passive anti-measles virus immunity in a mouse model.
- Compared the immunogenic profile of MVvac2-H2 against the parental vaccine strain.
Main Results:
- MVvac2-H2 demonstrated retained immunogenicity in the presence of passive immunity, mimicking infant conditions.
- The enhanced measles virus vaccine showed a superior immunogenic profile in a physiological maternal immunity model.
- Enhanced hemagglutinin incorporation appears to circumvent in vivo neutralization by maternal antibodies.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing measles virus hemagglutinin expression is a viable strategy to overcome maternal antibody interference.
- MVvac2-H2 shows potential as an improved pediatric measles vaccine for stalled eradication efforts.
- Further exploration of this enhanced measles vaccine strategy is warranted.