Measles virus's ability to kill innate-like T cells may increase the risk of unrelated infections

What is it about?

Infection with measles virus in previously unvaccinated individuals is proposed to eliminate innate-like invariant T lymphocytes, thus impeding antimicrobial responses orchestrated by these powerful lymphocytes. This in turn leads to increased susceptibility to a wide range of unrelated infections.

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Why is it important?

It has been known for decades that measles can cause broad immunosuppression and increase the risk of infections with unrelated microbes. It was recently demonstrated that measles virus (MeV) can target and eliminate memory T and B cells in previously unvaccinated individuals, thus compromising the body's recollection of past encounters with various microbes and vaccines. Additionally, we demonstrated that antimicrobial innate-like invariant T cells can be attacked and killed by MeV, suggesting that trained immunity of innate nature can also be compromised after measles. Complications arising from MeV infection itself and from subsequent infections (caused by MeV-induced immunosuppression), can be readily prevented through vaccination against MeV. This is of utmost importance since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and anti-vaccine sentiments have lowered the rates of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases, including but not limited to measles. Our work reiterates the value of vaccination against communicable diseases.