Case report: Persistent shedding of a live vaccine-derived rubella virus in a young man with severe combined immunodeficiency and cutaneous granuloma

Kimberly E. Bonner, Ellie Sukerman, Juventila Liko, Tatiana M. Lanzieri, Melissa Sutton, Emilio DeBess, Christopher Leesman, Joseph Icenogle, Li Juan Hao, Min Hsin Chen, Raeesa Faisthalab, Richard F. Leman, Paul R. Cieslak, Suk See DeRavin, Ludmila Perelygina

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

A young man with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency developed a persistent vaccine-derived rubella virus (VDRV) infection, with the emergence of cutaneous granulomas more than fifteen years after receipt of two doses of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Following nasopharyngeal swab (NP) collection, VDRV was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and sequencing, and live, replication-competent VDRV was isolated in cell culture. To assess duration and intensity of viral shedding, sequential respiratory samples, one cerebrospinal fluid sample, and two urine samples were collected over 15 months, and VDRV RNA was detected in all samples by RT-qPCR. Live VDRV was cultured from nine of the eleven respiratory specimens and from one urine specimen. To our knowledge, this was the first reported instance of VDRV cultured from respiratory specimens or from urine. To assess potential transmission to close contacts, NP specimens and sera were collected from all household contacts, all of whom were immunocompetent and previously vaccinated with MMR. VDRV RNA was not detected in any NP swabs from the contacts, nor did serologic investigations suggest VDRV transmission to any contacts. This report highlights the need to understand the prevalence and duration of VDRV shedding in granuloma patients and to estimate the risk of VDRV transmission to immune and non-immune contacts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1075351
JournalFrontiers in immunology
Volume13
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 8 2022

Keywords

  • gene therapy
  • inborn errors of immunity
  • live virus shedding
  • skin granuloma
  • vaccine-derived rubella virus
  • viral persistence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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