Immunologic properties of RA27-3 rubella virus vaccine. A comparison with strains presently licensed in the United States

Abstract

The Wistar RA27/3 strain of rubella virus was attenuated in WI-38 cell culture, and although it induces predominantly subclinical infection, it is immunogenic both intranasally and subcutaneously. The humoral antibody response to this strain administered either way is characterized by hemagglutination-inhibition, complement-fixation, neutralizing, and precipitin antibody responses closer to those of natural rubella than is the case with other attenuated strains. Those who receive live attenuated Wistar RA27/3 rubella virus vaccine develop a resistance to reinfection similar to that following natural infection without the susceptibility to reinfection manifested by those receiving either live attenuated Cendehill or HPV-77 rubella virus vaccines. The induction of nasal antibodies is correlated with this resistance to reinfection with rubella virus. Intranasally administered RA27/3 vaccine, but not subcutaneously administered RA27/3 vaccine, can be used to boost the antibody titer of subjects previously given Cendehill or HPV-77 vaccines.