Immunization to Prevent Herpes Zoster in the Elderly

Levin, Myron J.

Abstract

Herpes zoster is a serious and very common disease of aging individuals. The frequency and morbidity of this illnes increases with the age of the patient. Considerable evidence suggests that this correlation reflects a decrease in immunity to varicella zoster virus (VZV)--the causative agent of herpes zoster--as part of the aging process. This project will determine which specific components, or defects in these components, of the immune responses of elderly individuals best correlate with their susceptibility to herpes zoster. This information will complement similar data derived in Project 1 which seeks to correlate immune deficits with post- herpetic pain. Correcting these defects will be the endpoint of a pilot trial in which elderly individuals will receive a live attenuated varicella vaccine. Finally, if an appropriate response to the vaccine is achieved, we will undertake a much larger trial with the goal of enhancing immune responses to VZV sufficiently to prevent herpes zoster.

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Type: Research Program Projects (P01)
• Project #: 5P01AG007347-02
• Application #: 3814118
• Support Year: 2
• Fiscal Year: 1989

Institution

• Name: University of Colorado Denver
• DUNS #: 065391526
• City: Aurora
• State: CO
• Country: United States
• Zip Code: 80045

Publications

Yang, Q; Sarnow, P (1997) Location of the internal ribosome entry site in the 5' non-coding region of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein (BiP) mRNA: evidence for specific RNA-protein interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 25:2800-7

Haller, A A; Sarnow, P (1997) In vitro selection of a 7-methyl-guanosine binding RNA that inhibits translation of capped mRNA molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94:8521-6

McBratney, S; Sarnow, P (1996) Evidence for involvement of trans-acting factors in selection of the AUG start codon during eukaryotic translational initiation. Mol Cell Biol 16:3523-34

Levin, M J; Murray, M; Zerbe, G O et al. (1994) Immune responses of elderly persons 4 years after receiving a live attenuated varicella vaccine. J Infect Dis 170:522-6

Hayward, A R; Buda, K; Levin, M J (1994) Immune response to secondary immunization with live or inactivated VZV vaccine in elderly adults. Viral Immunol 7:31-6

Zhang, Y; Cosyns, M; Levin, M J et al. (1994) Cytokine production in varicella zoster virus-stimulated limiting dilution lymphocyte cultures. Clin Exp Immunol 98:128-33

Hayward, A R; Zerbe, G O; Levin, M J (1994) Clinical application of responder cell frequency estimates with four years of follow up. J Immunol Methods 170:27-36

Rotbart, H A; Levin, M J; Hayward, A R (1993) Immune responses to varicella zoster virus infections in healthy children. J Infect Dis 167:195-9

Hayward, A R; Read, G S; Cosyns, M (1993) Herpes simplex virus interferes with monocyte accessory cell function. J Immunol 150:190-6

Betz, J L; Wydoski, S G (1993) Functional interaction of varicella zoster virus gene 62 protein with the DNA sequence bound by herpes simplex virus ICP4 protein. Virology 195:793-7