hD defence B.M. (Brigitta) Laksono

Measles remains an important global cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Safe and effective measles vaccines have reduced the incidence of the disease, but elimination efforts are hampered by increasing vaccine hesitancy. Thus, it is vital to understand the biology and consequences of infections with the highly contagious measles virus. In this thesis, we studied which immune cells can be infected by measles virus (Chapter 2). During measles, these cells enter the blood and spread the virus to various organs and tissues, such as the skin (Chapter 3) or the brain (Chapter 4). The loss of infected memory immune cells leads to immune amnesia and increased susceptibility to other infectious diseases (Chapter 5). However, measles virus infection also induces strong immune responses that provide lifelong protection from measles. To study this complex paradox, a good disease model is needed. We studied a virus that is a close relative to measles virus (canine distemper virus) and show that infection of ferrets leads to disease resembling measles (Chapter 6). Altogether, a greater understanding of measles and measles-associated immune suppression will increase a universal awareness that measles is not an innocent childhood disease.

The PhD defences will not take place publicly in the usual way. A live stream link has been provided to candidate. The ceremony will begin exactly at 13.00.