Incubation Measles: The Cancer Killer?
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Nov 26, 2024 Michael Mina, a former Harvard epidemiologist and current chief scientific officer at eMed, reveals the surprising impact of measles on the immune system, leading to what's called 'immune amnesia.' He discusses how measles can weaken immune responses and increase vulnerability to other diseases. Stephen Russell, co-founder of Vyriad and a former Mayo Clinic researcher, shares innovative approaches using the measles virus to target cancer cells, exploring this exciting frontier of virotherapy and its potential benefits for cancer treatment.
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Measles Vaccine's Unexpected Impact
- After the measles vaccine was introduced, childhood mortality from infectious diseases dropped more than expected.
- This drop was greater than what could be explained by measles deaths alone, hinting at a broader impact.
Measles and Immune Amnesia Link
- Measles outbreaks in one year predicted increased non-measles infectious disease deaths in the following three years.
- This suggests measles weakens the immune system's memory of other diseases.
Immune Memory Explained
- Immune memory, like regular memory, is stored in cells (B cells, T cells, plasma cells).
- When encountering a pathogen, the body recognizes, learns, and remembers it to combat future infections.