New research suggests that activating cross-reactive immune cells could provide a defense against the entire paramyxovirus family, including measles and the deadly Nipah virus.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- Cross-Reactive T Cells: Scientists found that T cells trained to fight measles can also recognize Nipah virus by identifying shared molecular markers called epitopes.
- Broad Immune Defense: Activating these specific immune cells may provide a first line of defense against various pathogens within the paramyxovirus family during unpredictable outbreaks.
- Clinical Potential: The study suggests that existing measles vaccines could potentially offer some level of protection during outbreaks of related viruses like Nipah by targeting conserved viral proteins.
Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have identified how T cells target the paramyxovirus family, a group of pathogens including measles and Nipah virus, according to a study published in Cell Reports Medicine.
The research indicates that instead of vaccinating against one virus at a time, activating “cross-reactive” T cells may protect against the wider paramyxovirus family. This approach could be essential for defending against unknown viral strains during future healthcare emergencies.
“No one knows which particular viral species or strain of a virus might be responsible for an outbreak, as we’ve seen in the recent cases of Andes hantavirus,” said Alessandro Sette, a professor at LJI, in a news release.
“Activating T cells can be your first line of defense when you don’t know what’s going to be thrown at you,” said Alba Grifoni, a research assistant professor at LJI.
The study, supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), focused on how the adaptive immune system learns to target specific threats. While T cells are typically specialists, some can recognize different viruses if they share similar epitopes, which are specific molecular sites that mark a pathogen.
Researchers worked with the LJI John and Susan Major Center for Clinical Investigation to analyze T cells from the blood of 31 participants. These individuals had received MMR vaccines, which protect against measles, mumps, and rubella.
The experiments mapped T cell epitopes on the measles virus and then tested the response to Nipah virus. The team found that some measles-fighting T cells could recognize Nipah virus despite the participants never having been infected with it. The researchers identified a specific conserved epitope shared between the two viruses located in a region of the viral fusion, or “F,” protein.
“Focusing immune responses on these conserved regions could have a broad, protective capacity for the whole viral family,” said Sette.
The findings come as US healthcare providers face a surge in measles cases. In 2026, the US has recorded 2,033 confirmed cases, which is on track to surpass 2025 totals. While measles is highly infectious, the related Nipah virus is significantly more lethal, with a fatality rate between 40% and 75%.
“Outbreaks are becoming more and more frequent, especially in the Malaysian region,” said Grifoni.
Because of the cross-reactivity discovered in the study, Sette noted that measles vaccines might offer some benefit during a Nipah outbreak.
“It appears that if someone is vaccinated against measles, their T cells will have some degree of cross-reactivity to Nipah,” said Sette.
