Title of the centre:
WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Measles Infections
Director / Head:
Professor Claude P. Muller
Institution:
Division d'Immunologie
Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS)
Address:
P.O. Box 1102
L-1011
Town:
Luxembourg
Country:
LUXEMBOURG
Region:
EURO
Phone:
+352 49 06 04 220
Fax:
+352 49 06 86
Date of Designation:
03/Feb/1998
Last Redesignation:
13/Mar/2009
Expiry:
13/Mar/2013
Date of Discontinuation:
Terms of Reference:
- Identification of genetic markers for measles virus attenuation: The objective of this study is to determine phenotypic differences between wild-type and vaccine strains in vitro and to identify the genetic basis of the latter.
- Characterisation of vaccine induced immunity: The objective of this activity is to investigate the robustness of vaccine induced immunity as well as the impact of an increasing number of vaccinees with a less durable immunity on the epidemiology of measles.
- Antigenic and phenotypic characterization of measles virus isolates: This activity targets the genetic and antigenic characterization of the measles virus H-gene of new measles virus variants. Another objective of this activity is to study field isolates with respect to their phenotypic differences.
- Development of vaccination strategies to close the window of susceptibility in infants before they can be vaccinated with the live-attenuated vaccine at 9 months. The corresponding strategy is based on novel synthetic and recombinant antigens.
- Intensified measles surveillance: The objective of this activity is to improve and intensify measles surveillance in Luxembourg, within Europe and beyond, to further develop and optimize protocols for the diagnosis of measles and of measles immunity in different health care settings, in particularly of resource poor countries.
- Genetic characterization of measles virus isolates: This activity targets the genetic characterization of a maximum of MV strains especially in collaboration with countries which are close to eliminate measles. MV sequences will be submitted to phylogenetic analysis and compared to strains circulating in other regions and/or at earlier times. Another objective is to further optimize our non-sequencing genotyping method, to facilitate measles virus genotyping in absence of sequencing facilities.
- Training and technical support for laboratory personnel from developing countries. The objective of this activity is to train eligible personnel from developing countries in particular from other laboratories of the WHO laboratory network in measles laboratory diagnosis and surveillance.
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Types of activity:
- Provision of reference substances and other services
- Research
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WHO organization wide expected result:
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1.4 - Policy and technical support provided to Member States in order to enhance their capacity to carry out surveillance and monitoring of all communicable diseases of public health importance. |
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Responsible Officer:
PFEIFER Dina
Phone:
+45 39171534
Technical Counterpart:
MULDERS Miguel Norman
Phone:
+41 22 79 14405
Access to annual progress reports and the current workplan (this is accessible to WHO Staff Members only):
Link to eWork
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