M — Measles Virus
Measles virus is an enveloped, negative-sense RNA virus in the Paramyxoviridae family. It uses the SLAM (CD150) receptor on immune cells and nectin-4 on epithelial cells for entry. Replication occurs in the cytoplasm, producing syncytia through fusion protein activity.
Measles is highly immunosuppressive. The virus infects and depletes memory B and T lymphocytes, effectively causing “immune amnesia.” This leads to increased susceptibility to secondary infections long after recovery.
Pathogenesis involves systemic spread following respiratory infection, viremia, and infection of multiple tissues. The characteristic rash results from immune-mediated clearance of infected endothelial and epithelial cells.
Complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal degenerative CNS disease caused by persistent mutated virus years after infection.
Measles research has illuminated viral immune evasion, long-term effects on immune memory, and the public health importance of herd immunity through vaccination.
Measles virus is an enveloped, negative-sense RNA virus in the Paramyxoviridae family. It uses the SLAM (CD150) receptor on immune cells and nectin-4 on epithelial cells for entry. Replication occurs in the cytoplasm, producing syncytia through fusion protein activity.
Measles is highly immunosuppressive. The virus infects and depletes memory B and T lymphocytes, effectively causing “immune amnesia.” This leads to increased susceptibility to secondary infections long after recovery.
Pathogenesis involves systemic spread following respiratory infection, viremia, and infection of multiple tissues. The characteristic rash results from immune-mediated clearance of infected endothelial and epithelial cells.
Complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal degenerative CNS disease caused by persistent mutated virus years after infection.
Measles research has illuminated viral immune evasion, long-term effects on immune memory, and the public health importance of herd immunity through vaccination.