Measles Virus - immune response to natural infection and vaccination

Despite the development of an effective vaccine, measles, a highly contagious disease, is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. This paper presents the characteristics of the immune response in the course of natural measles virus infection and the response induced by vaccination. The elements of innate, humoral and cellular response, as well as immunosuppression due to infection with MeV and mechanisms for the acquisition of immune memory are described. Particular attention is paid to the determinants of postvaccination response rates. We focus also on the problem of passive transfer of antibodies during pregnancy and the consequences of inadequate immunization of infants born to mothers vaccinated against measles