How measles virus both weakens and activates the immune system
Summary
The measles virus weakens the defenses against previously experienced infectious diseases, which means that measles patients are at an increased risk of opportunistic infections for a long time. At the same time, the infection induces a strong virus-specific immune response, leading to lifelong protection against measles. Based on studies in tissue culture, laboratory animals and patients, we have unraveled the mechanism by which measles attacks the immune system, thereby explaining the "measles paradox". Recent studies of blood samples from unvaccinated children in the experimental Reformed community collected before, during and after measles have provided additional evidence for this mechanism. The results show that measles causes "immunological amnesia." This article places the results of these studies in a clinical perspective.the article in the NTGV can be read, here