%0 Journal Article %T Does prior immunization with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines contribute to the antibody response to COVID-19 antigens? %J Iranian Journal of Immunology %I Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research %Z 1735-1383 %A Hassani, Danesh %A Amiri, Mohammad Mehdi %A Maghsood, Faezeh %A Salimi, Vahid %A Kardar, Gholam Ali %A Barati, Omid %A Hashemian, Seyed Mohammad Reza %A Jeddi-Tehrani, Mahmood %A Zarnani, Amir-Hassan %A Shokri, Fazel %D 2021 %\ 03/01/2021 %V 18 %N 1 %P 47-53 %! Does prior immunization with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines contribute to the antibody response to COVID-19 antigens? %K Antibody Response %K Cross-protection %K MMR %K SARS-CoV2 %K Tetanus %R 10.22034/iji.2021.87990.1843 %X Background: Incidence and severity of SARS-CoV2 infection are significantly lower in children and teenagers proposing that certain vaccines, routinely administered to neonates and children may provide cross-protection against this emerging infection. Objective: To assess the cross-protection induced by prior measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations against COVID-19. Methods: The antibody responses to MMR and tetanus vaccines were determined in 53 patients affected with SARS-CoV2 infection and 52 age-matched healthy subjects. Serum levels of antibodies specific for NP and RBD of SARS-CoV2 were also determined in both groups of subjects with ELISA. Results: Our results revealed significant differences in anti-NP (p <0.0001) and anti-RBD (p <0.0001) IgG levels between patients and healthy controls. While the levels of rubella- and mumps specific IgG were not different in the two groups of subjects, measles-specific IgG was significantly higher in patients (p <0.01). The serum titer of anti-tetanus antibody, however, was significantly lower in patients compared to healthy individuals (p <0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that measles vaccination triggers those B cells cross-reactive with SARS-CoV2 antigens leading to the production of increased levels of measles-specific antibody. %U https://iji.sums.ac.ir/article_47467_2866f9f848db52c513482a08052f27a2.pdf