MOUSE ANTI-MEASLES VIRUS (6012)

Mouse anti Measles virus (6012) antibody is specific for Measles virus and has been developed for use in ELISA and immunofluorescence.

PRODUCT DETAILS – MOUSE ANTI-MEASLES VIRUS (6012)

• Mouse Anti Measles Virus (clone 6012) is specific for Measles virus. It shows no cross-reactivity with Mumps virus, RSV and Parainfluenza viruses 1, 2 and 3.
• Purified preparations consist of >90% pure mouse monoclonal antibody purified from ascites fluid or culture medium by protein A chromatography or sequential differential precipitations.
• Presented in PBS pH7.2 with 0.1% sodium azide.
• For use in ELISA and immunofluorescence.

BACKGROUND

Measles is an infection of the respiratory system, immune system and skin caused by measles virus (MV), a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Measles is a highly contageous viral infection with a substantial degree of morbidity and significant mortality (Krugman et al., 1985). The initial symptoms usually include a high fever (often >40 °C), Koplik spots (spots in the mouth that usually appear 2–3 days prior to the rash and last 3–5 days), malaise, loss of appetite, red eyes, runny nose, and sometimes coughing. This is followed by the appearance of typical maculopapular, erythematous rash that covers much of the body; after which the recovery progresses, provided that there are no other infections or complications. The virus spreads by respiration either directly or through aerosol. The virus infects the host by binding specifically to receptors: SLAM (signaling lymphocyte activation molecule) that is expressed on immune cells, the CD46 (membrane cofactor protein) that is expressed on epithelial cells, and a third putative receptor that is shown to allow MV infection with the absence of the above receptors. This type of specific receptor mediated entry confines the tropism of MV to humans hosts and no other animal resevoirs are known (Naim, 2015).

A safe and cost-effective vaccine is available and increased immunization has led to a 60–75% drop in measles deaths which made up 25% of the decline in mortality in children under five (UN, 2013). Global measles deaths have decreased by 80% from an estimated 545,000 in 2000 to 110,000 in 2017 (WHO). In 2012, the Health Assembly endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan, with the objective of eliminating measles in four WHO regions by 2015 and in five regions by 2020. But despite this push there were regions where children (mostly under the age of five) were left unvaccinated and these then resulted in the large measles outbreaks observed in 2017. Based on current trends of measles vaccination coverage and incidence, the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) concluded that measles elimination is greatly under threat, and the disease has resurged in a number of countries that had achieved, or were close to achieving, elimination. The continued spread of measles across Europe is due to suboptimal vaccination coverage in many EU/EEA countries and of all measles cases reported with known vaccination status, 87% were in unvaccinated individuals (ECDC).

REFERENCES

• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Measles outbreaks still ongoing in 2018 and fatalities reported from four countries. 9 Mar 2018.
• Krugman et al. Measles. In: Infectious diseases of Children 1985; 8th edn. Mosby, St Louis, 152-166. 
• Millennium Development Goals. United Nations (UN). 18 March 2013.
• Naim HY. (2015). Measles virus A pathogen, vaccine, and a vector. Hum Vaccin Immunother.  11(1): 21–26.
• World Health organisation (WHO). Measles. 9 May 2019.