Poliovirus (Types 1, 2, and 3) (PV)

Poliovirus (Types 1, 2, and 3) are the viral agents responsible for poliomyelitis, a highly infectious disease that can cause permanent muscle weakness and paralysis by destroying motor neurons in the spinal cord (WHO, 2022). These viruses are small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family (UniProt, 2024). The inactivated poliovirus (IPV) is a trivalent vaccine component containing formaldehyde-killed strains of the Mahoney (Type 1), MEF-1 (Type 2), and Saukett (Type 3) polioviruses (CDC, 2023). IPV functions by presenting these viral antigens to the immune system, which then generates a robust humoral response characterized by the production of type-specific neutralizing antibodies (StatPearls, 2023). These antibodies circulate systemically and provide protection by blocking the virus from entering host cells via the CD155 receptor during subsequent exposure, effectively preventing the development of paralytic disease (PubMed, 2021).

Other names

Inactivated poliovirus vaccineIPVSalk vaccinePoliomyelitis vaccinePoliovirus type 1 (Mahoney)Poliovirus type 2 (MEF-1)Poliovirus type 3 (Saukett)

The inactivated poliovirus (IPV) acts as an exogenous antigen that stimulates the host immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies (primarily IgG). These antibodies target the viral capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, and VP3) of poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3. By binding to these proteins, the antibodies prevent the virus from attaching to the human poliovirus receptor (CD155/PVR) on the surface of host cells, thereby neutralizing the virus and preventing infection of the central nervous system (StatPearls, 2023; CDC, 2023).