Immunization of children with attenuated measles-rubella bivalent vaccine

The effects of simultaneous administration of Schwarz-strain measles virus vaccine and Cendehill-strain rubella virus vaccine as a single bivalent injection was evaluated in 346 children susceptible to both diseases. With placebo and monovalent controls, four bivalent preparations were used in a double-blind protocol to determine the effects of variations in the concentration of one or both components. No unusual reactions occurred and simultaneous administration did not enhance clinical reactivity. For measles, the seroconversion rate was 97% for monovalent vaccine and 97% to 100% (average 98%) for bivalent vaccines. For rubella, the rate was 100% for monovalent vaccine and 94% to 100% (average 99%) for bivalent vaccines. Thus, the vaccines were as safe and effective when given together as when given separately.

Clinical evaluation of a new measles-mumps-rubella combined live virus vaccine in the Dominican Republic

Over 900 children were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study of measles (Schwarz strain), mumps (Jeryl Lynn strain), and rubella (Cendehill strain) trivalent vaccine. The trivalent vaccine caused about the same degree of reactivity as is generally associated with the Schwarz strain measles vaccine. Paired sera from triplesusceptible vaccinees had seroconversion rates of 99% for measles, 94% for mumps, and 93% for rubella. The results of this study show that this trivalent vaccine is as well tolerated and as effective as its component vaccines.

Reversal of the bactericidal reaction of serum by magnesium ion

Muschel, Louis H. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis), and Jean E. Jackson. Reversal of the bactericidal reaction of serum by magnesium ion. J. Bacteriol. 91:1399-1402. 1966.-Magnesium ion was found to reverse the bactericidal action of the antibody-complement system. Concentrations of 0.03 to 0.11 m MgSO(4) or MgCl(2) were effective, provided that the reaction of the antibody-complement system did not proceed longer than 50 min. Salts of other monovalent and divalent cations, the polyamine, spermine, and several anticomplementary substances were inactive in reversing the serum bactericidal reaction. Thus, the bactericidal reaction of serum may be bacteriostatic under certain conditions, and this finding is compatible with the persistence of infection in certain diseases despite high levels of antibody.