Comparative analysis of the complete nucleotide sequences of measles, mumps, and rubella strain genomes contained in Priorix-Tetra™ and ProQuad™ live attenuated combined vaccines

Measles, mumps, and rubella are three common viral childhood diseases that can have serious complications. Active immunization against these diseases became possible with the development of live attenuated virus vaccines in the late 1960s. Vaccines against these three diseases were combined into trivalent (Priorix™, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and M-M-RII™, Merck & Co., Inc.) or tetravalent vaccines including the addition of a live attenuated VZV Oka strain (Priorix-Tetra™, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and ProQuad™, Merck & Co., Inc.). In this study, we report the complete nucleotide sequence of the vaccine strain genomes of the measles (Schwarz and attenuated Edmonston Enders), mumps (RIT 4385 and JL1 component of Jeryl Lynn), and rubella (Wistar RA 27/3) viruses included in the two tetravalent vaccines. Sequencing analysis of the individual virus components in the commercially distributed tetravalent vaccine lots showed that there are no nucleotide differences between the measles, mumps (JL1 component), and rubella vaccine strain genomes of Priorix-Tetra™ and ProQuad™. The observed genetic identity of the individual strains in both vaccines is consistent with their clinical profiles; Priorix-Tetra™ and ProQuad™ are both well tolerated and elicit protective immune responses against these three childhood diseases.