Live attenuated mumps virus (MuV) (MuV)

The live attenuated mumps virus is a biological agent used in vaccines to induce protective immunity against the mumps virus (CDC, 2021). It belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and consists of a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA genome encapsulated in a viral envelope (UniProt, 2023). Unlike the wild-type virus, the attenuated strain is modified to replicate poorly in human cells, ensuring it triggers an immune response without causing clinical disease (StatPearls, 2023). The primary mechanism involves the presentation of viral antigens to B-cells and T-cells, leading to the production of neutralizing antibodies and the establishment of long-term immunological memory (PubMed, 2018). This immune priming prevents future infections by wild-type mumps, which typically causes painful swelling of the parotid glands and can lead to complications like meningitis or orchitis (NIH, 2022). Because it is a live virus, it is generally contraindicated in individuals with severely compromised immune systems or during pregnancy (FDA, 2020). The most common vaccine strain used globally is the Jeryl Lynn strain, which has a long-standing record of safety and efficacy (WHO, 2019).

Other names

Mumps virusMuVParamyxovirus mumpsJeryl Lynn strainUrabe strainLeningrad-Zagreb strain

The live attenuated mumps virus induces active immunity by stimulating the production of neutralizing antibodies and activating cell-mediated immune responses against viral antigens (StatPearls, 2023).