Sequencing of Vaccine Preventable Disease Agents - Measles. Measles morbillivirus

The purpose of this project is to fill major gaps in knowledge concerning the genomic characteristics of viral agents that are controlled by vaccination. In many cases, only partial genomic sequences are available and these are from well characterized laboratory strains. The CDC proposes to sequence genomes of selected Vaccine Preventable Disease agents to close this gap in information. Obtaining such genetic information will facilitate the monitoring of vaccine safety and stability, studies of transmission, vaccine development and disease pathogenesis. Complete sequences for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella isolates will help inform the development of improved or new diagnostic assays to diagnose disease in vaccinated individuals and to differentiate between vaccine-associated disease and natural infection. These sequences will also be useful in studies of virus nomenclature.