Cross-Reactive T Cells Discovered to Target Paramyxovirus Family, Offering Broad Protection Against Measles and Nipah Virus
Key Insights
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered that cross-reactive T cells can target multiple viruses within the paramyxovirus family, including measles and Nipah virus (search).
Blood samples from measles-vaccinated individuals never exposed to Nipah virus (search) showed T cell (search) reactivity against both viruses, indicating shared biomarkers.
The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, suggests that existing measles vaccination may confer protection against Nipah virus (search) during outbreaks.
A team of researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology has uncovered how T cells can be harnessed to target an entire family of viruses known as paramyxoviruses, which includes the highly infectious measles virus (search) and the deadly Nipah virus (search). The findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, demonstrate that vaccinating to activate "cross-reactive" T cells could offer broad protection across multiple viral strains within this family.
The study, led by Dr. Alessandro Sette, Professor in the Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation and Co-Director of the Center for Vaccine Innovation at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, addresses a pressing public health concern. Paramyxoviruses are currently a significant worry due to their high infectiousness and low survival rates, and scientists do not yet know which viral variant is responsible for recent outbreaks.
Cross-Reactive T Cells: A Broad-Spectrum Approach
Cross-reactive T cells are distinguished by their ability to target multiple cell types based on the various biomarkers they express. This characteristic makes them particularly valuable for addressing viral families where multiple strains and variants may circulate simultaneously. The approach has precedent: cross-reactive T cells previously demonstrated strong results against COVID-19 (search), where they were shown to recognize a variety of coronavirus strains. These same T cells were also reported to protect against stronger viral strains, such as the Lassa virus (search). The researchers rationalized that since cross-reactive T cells optimally react to viral families, the same principle could apply to paramyxoviruses.
Experimental Evidence of Cross-Reactivity
To test this hypothesis, the research team collected blood samples from individuals who had been vaccinated against measles but had never been exposed to the Nipah virus (search). The analysis revealed that T cells in these blood samples could react to both the Nipah virus and the measles virus (search), indicating the presence of a shared biomarker between the two pathogens. Researchers subsequently mapped these markers and confirmed that the T cells indeed possess cross-reactivity.
This discovery opens the door to developing therapies capable of targeting the Nipah virus (search) during an outbreak, potentially saving lives. The researchers recommend that patients receive the measles vaccine, as it could help protect against Nipah virus if ever exposed.
Funding and Urgency
The critical need for effective therapies against paramyxoviruses has drawn support from major funding bodies. Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (search) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) (search) have funded this work. The development of a therapeutic approach that enhances T cell (search) function against a wide range of strains could minimize mortality and improve survival outcomes, particularly in outbreak settings where the specific viral variant may be unknown.
Dr. Sette's research group focuses on the development of vaccines to target specific disease proteins and investigates how to deliver long-lasting, specific immunity against viral infections and cancer. This latest work extends that mission by demonstrating how existing vaccination strategies may already be providing broader protection than previously understood.