Abstract

Rubella virus (RV), also known as German measles, is a member of the Togaviridae family and is the causative agent of rubella. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, rubella remains a significant global public health concern, particularly due to its teratogenic effects when contracted during pregnancy. Pregnant women who contract rubella in the first trimester can experience miscarriage or congenital rubella syndrome. Understanding the intricacies of the human immune response to rubella is essential for optimizing vaccination strategies and controlling outbreaks. This paper briefly reviews the current state of knowledge regarding the immune response to RV, including the mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity, immune memory, vaccine-induced immunity, and correlates of protection. Furthermore, the implications of immune evasion mechanisms employed by the virus are explored, and avenues for future research to improve vaccine efficacy and control the transmission of rubella are discussed.

Key words: Immune evasion; Immune memory; Immune response; Rubella virus; Vaccination.