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MEASLES VIRAL INFECTION

Viral Immunologic

Abstract

Measles Virus is associated with high illness and death rates over the years and is still considered one of the most medically crucial important infectious agents around the globe. Every year, roughly about 30million people are infected with acute measles, and close to 1 million die as a result of complications arising from the virus. As a result of this, the WHO is trying hard to get rid of the measles virus completely. Concerning our immunity, the measles virus is captivating due to its numerous interactivities with the defense system of our body (immune). These activities seem to be like two-phased puzzles, that are immunoregulatory by measles virus and immunity against measles virus.

Article Summary

Measles is a severe sudden viral infection that can affect the general systems of the body. It can usually characterize by fever, respiratory-related symptoms, and signs of the rash. Measles can lead to very devastating long-time effects and deaths. Infection can result in lifelong immunity. Measles is highly communicable and can be prevented by vaccination. More also, lately cases of measles infections have been drastically reduced in the United States. However, due to parental fear of utilizing vaccine availability for their kids, this has led to progressing chances of children been exposed to the virus and therefore, resulting in an increasing number of cases in the United States.

Pathogen Information

Measles is a viral infection. Rubeola is a linear single-stranded, negative-sense enveloped RNA virus of the genus Morbillivirus which belongs to the family of viruses called Paramyxoviridae ("Measles Virus: Structure, Pathogenesis, and Lab Diagnosis - Learn Microbiology Online"). Rubeola virus is acellular particles that can replicate and cause havoc in its human host (Chapter 5: introduction to viruses).

Rubeola virus is enveloped with spheres of 300 to 400nm diameter. Since the rubeola virus is capable of establishing an infection they are termed virions. Virions have an inner helical nucleocapsid that is a rounded helix of protein and RNA with spikes which serves as a source of attachment to its host cells (“Measles Virus (Rubeola) - Infectious Disease Advisor”). However, its genome consists of a minimum of eight structural proteins. Rubeola strains can be differentiated by genome sequence to decide vaccine shot from various types of viruses and ascertain the origin of introduced cases. Rubeola virus is more extreme in infants and adults than in children and those categories of people whose immunity is compromised. Untreated cases of the infection can result in complications like encephalitis and pneumonia.

The best treatment for measles rubeola will be supportive measures, such as antipyretics and fluids because there is no specific antiviral therapy available for the infection. However, ribavirin has been used to treat measles in time past, no formal studies have been conducted, so its effectiveness against measles has not been proven (“Measles Virus (Rubeola) - Infectious Disease Advisor”). Since measles is a viral infection antibiotics will not help. However, it can be prescribed if the person develops a bacterial infection in the process. The safest and most effective approach to measles is prevention, which is getting vaccinated.

Rubeola virus does not have the mechanism to breakdown, ingest, digest, and absorbed or produce food (metabolism) and so they are neither heterotroph nor autotroph as discussed in chapter 7. However, the rubeolar virus is considered nonliving as they invade their host cells in other to reproduce (“Measles Virus (Rubeola) - Infectious Disease Advisor”). They undergo two types of cycles which are lytic and lysogenic. The lytic phase of viral replication entails rubeola virus attaches to its host, injecting its viral DNA into the host, taking over host metabolism by causing the production of new viral proteins and nucleic acid and lastly resulting in viral catalysts breakdown and penetrating the host cell and emancipating new viral particles that can fight other cells. While, in the lysogenic phase, viral DNA injects itself into its host nucleus, thereby replicating and departing the host's nucleus as discussed in chapter 6 (Introduction to viruses)

The virus characteristically first originates in the host lung tissue where it contaminates immune cells termed macrophages and dendritic cells, which act as a preliminary defense and alerting system of the body, the affected or contaminated cells, therefore, travel to the lymph nodes where they transmit the virus to B and T cells (ShultzJan. 30 et al.). Therefore, a superficial protein on these WBC acts as a virus's point of invasion during this dire phase. The infected lymphocytes then travel and circulate all over the body, thereby liberating virus particles in the bloodstream. Organs like the spleen, lymph nodes, liver, thymus, skin, and lungs are definitely targeted areas for the virus. However, in minor cases, the virus can cross the blood-brain barrier and can lead to serious swelling of the brain and also the infection can lead to a horse-riding cough that can enhance the spread of the virus among the population as discussed on chapter 13 and 14 (Micro human interactions and Host defenses)

The causative agent of measles is called the rubeola virus. Primary disease symptom is characterized by prodromal fever, conjunctivitis, coryza, hacking cough, and small spots with pale centers on an erythematous base on the buccal mucosa (koplik spots). More also, distinctive red, blotchy rash appears on the third to the seventh day, the rash start appearing on the face region and then spread to all over the body and this last up to 4 to 7 days (“WHO | Measles”). Most diagnoses are made on clinical grounds, the presence of kolpik's spot provide a clear diagnosis. However, another diagnostic technique used is done by isolation of the virus in cell culture and a positive serological test for measles specifically 1gM and lastly identification of measles virus RNA from a clinical specimen by PCR (ShultzJan. 30 et al.). Therapeutic intervention needed for the treatment of measles infection is supportive intervention and the use of analgesics to reduce fever as previously discussed earlier on

References

“Measles Virus (Rubeola) - Infectious Disease Advisor.” Infectious Disease Advisor, 19 Jan. 2019, www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/infectious-diseases/measles-virus-rubeola/.

‌ "Measles Virus: Structure, Pathogenesis, and Lab Diagnosis - Learn Microbiology Online." Learn Microbiology Online, 5 Aug. 2013, microbeonline.com/measles-virus-structure-pathogenesis-clinical-feature-complications-and-lab-diagnosis/.

‌ Niewiesk, Stephan. “Shibboleth Authentication Request.” Login.Chamberlainuniversity.Idm.Oclc.Org, Sept. 2012, search-proquest-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/docview/219577205?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:wcdiscovery&accountid=147674.

‌ ShultzJan. 30, David, et al. “What Does Measles Actually Do?” Science | AAAS, 30 Jan. 2015, www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/01/what-does-measles-actually-do#:~:text=The%20virus%20typically%20first%20comes. Accessed 15 Aug. 2020.

‌ “WHO | Measles.” Who.Int, 30 Apr. 2014, www.who.int/ith/diseases/measles/en/, /entity/ith/diseases/measles/en/index.html.

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