Measles

The immunogenetics of measles immunity

This project focuses on genes that influence and determine the human immune response to the measles vaccine. This knowledge allows for a better understanding of how measles immunity develops after vaccination and why a range of immune responses occurs.

Innate immune function in older adults

This project is funded by the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging at Mayo Clinic. It focuses on the interaction between influenza vaccination and inflammasomes and the impact of senescence on this interaction, along with the subsequent adaptive immune response to the influenza virus. Senescence is the condition or process of deterioration with age.

Translating the discovery of immunogenic measles peptides into a candidate vaccine

The Vaccine Research Group has identified 13 naturally processed HLA-DRB1*03-restricted measles peptides. The current live-virus measles vaccine is highly effective and widely used; however, outbreaks among vaccinated people continue to occur. Difficulties encountered with the current vaccine include preexisting maternal antibodies that suppress response to the vaccine, cold chain requirements for vaccine viability, contraindicated use in immunocompromised people and the requirement for trained healthcare professionals to administer the vaccine.

The group's ability to identify critical measles epitopes is a significant step in developing a safe and effective peptide-based measles vaccine that circumvents these issues related to vaccine failure.

Learn more

See Vaccine Research Group publications related to measles and peptides.

See all publications by Mayo Clinic authors related to measles.

Learn about diagnosis and treatment of measles.