Persistent measles virus infection in vitro and in man.

The characteristics of cell lines persistently infected with measles virus are described. Molecular mechanisms for measles virus-persistence in vitro as well as in human disease include defective interfering particles, mutant virus strains, proviral DNA, and nonpermissive cell types. The role of measles virus in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and evidence for measles virus infection in multiple sclerosis, Paget's disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus are discussed.