Measles morbillivirus (MeV)

Measles morbillivirus, commonly known as the measles virus (MeV), is a highly contagious, enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family [1, 2]. It is the etiologic agent of measles, a severe systemic infection characterized by fever, cough, and a distinctive maculopapular rash, which remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable mortality globally [12, 15]. The virus primarily targets immune cells via the signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM/CD150) receptor and respiratory epithelial cells via nectin-4, leading to profound temporary immunosuppression and potential complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis [3, 11]. Therapeutic development focuses on specific viral proteins, most notably the large (L) protein, which functions as an RNA-directed RNA polymerase, and the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) [4, 8]. While measles is primarily controlled through live-attenuated vaccines such as the MMR vaccine, investigational small molecules like ERDRP-0519 target the viral polymerase to halt replication, while ribavirin and Vitamin A are utilized as off-label or adjunctive treatments to reduce disease severity [4, 11, 19].

Other names

Measles virusMVMorbillivirus hominisRubeola virusMorbilliEnglish measlesRed measles

Inhibition of the viral RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex, prevention of membrane fusion and viral entry via surface glycoproteins, and immunomodulation through nutritional supplementation