Jeryl Lynn

Jeryl Lynn is a strain of the mumps virus that is used in the production of mumps vaccine. It was first isolated in 1963 by Dr. Maurice Hilleman, who named it after his daughter, Jeryl Lynn Hilleman. The Jeryl Lynn strain is used in most mumps vaccines worldwide, including the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) and the MMRV vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella).

History

The Jeryl Lynn strain was first isolated in 1963 when Dr. Maurice Hilleman's daughter, Jeryl Lynn, contracted mumps. Dr. Hilleman was a prominent virologist at Merck & Co., and he used samples from his daughter to develop the mumps vaccine. The vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1967 and has since been used in many countries worldwide.

Vaccine Production

The Jeryl Lynn strain is used in the production of mumps vaccines. The virus is grown in chicken embryo cells, which are then harvested and purified to create the vaccine. The vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains a version of the mumps virus that has been weakened so it cannot cause disease in healthy people.

Efficacy and Safety

The Jeryl Lynn strain has been shown to be highly effective in preventing mumps. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one dose of the MMR vaccine, which contains the Jeryl Lynn strain, is 78% effective at preventing mumps, while two doses are 88% effective. The vaccine is also considered safe, with side effects usually mild and temporary.

Resistance and Outbreaks

While the Jeryl Lynn strain has been effective in reducing the incidence of mumps, there have been outbreaks of the disease in vaccinated populations. Some research suggests that the mumps virus may be evolving to evade the immune response triggered by the vaccine. However, the CDC maintains that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

See Also

• Maurice Hilleman
• Mumps
• MMR vaccine
• MMRV vaccine

References

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