HCMV Specific Neutra™ Antibody Products
Product listHuman Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common virus in the herpesvirus family, affecting people globally. It often causes mild or no symptoms in healthy people, but in immunocompromised patients, such as organ transplant recipients or HIV patients, it can lead to serious complications. Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, swollen glands, and in severe cases, damage to organs like the liver, lungs, or eyes. HCMV spreads largely by body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, sperm, and breast milk. It is widespread, with approximately 60-90% of adults worldwide showing evidence of past infection.
HCMV Replication
HCMV replication is a slow process, taking approximately five days in cell culture, predominantly within infected endothelial cells. Fibroblasts can also be infected, requiring a simpler viral receptor complex. HCMV gene expression follows a temporal pattern: immediate early (IE) genes regulate transcription, early (E) genes facilitate DNA replication and further transcription, and late (L) genes encode structural proteins. Though HCMV possesses its DNA polymerase, it relies on the host's RNA polymerase for all gene transcription. This controlled gene expression cascade ensures efficient viral replication and assembly.
Fig. 1 HCMV life cycle.1,3
HCMV Pathophysiology
HCMV primarily infects epithelial and endothelial cells but can also target CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, monocytes, and T cells. After entry into host cells, HCMV undergoes a lytic replication cycle, resulting in viral progeny production. The virus evades the immune system by modulating host immune responses, including inhibiting the presentation of viral antigens and interfering with natural killer (NK) cell activity. HCMV establishes latency in various tissues, particularly in monocytes and dendritic cells. Following initial infection, the virus remains dormant in these cells, evading immune detection. The virus may become reactivated when the immune system is compromised. During reactivation, HCMV replicates and releases virions into the circulation and other bodily liquids. This leads to the reappearance of symptoms, including fever and organ-specific complications, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Anti-HCMV Neutralizing Antibodies
Antibodies targeting HCMV are crucial for preventing infection and controlling viral reactivation. These antibodies are designed to neutralize the virus by binding to viral glycoproteins, such as gB and gH, which are essential for the virus to enter host cells. By blocking these proteins, antibodies can prevent the virus from infecting epithelial and endothelial cells. Additionally, HCMV-specific antibodies can promote the immune response through mechanisms like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), which enhances the destruction of infected cells. For instance, one study demonstrated that the addition of anti-HCMV antibodies can activate NK cells through ADCC before new virions are produced, overcoming viral immune evasins. Passive immunization with HCMV-specific antibodies has shown promise in reducing the risk of congenital infection and preventing complications in transplant recipients.
Fig. 2 Model for HCMV entry and antibody-mediated neutralization.2,3
Creative Biolabs provides an extensive selection of anti-HCMV neutralizing antibody products. These antibodies can be used in multiple applications to support your research in combating HCMV infections.
REFERENCES
- Manandhar, Trishna, et al. "Battle between host immune cellular responses and HCMV immune evasion." International journal of molecular sciences 20.15 (2019): 3626.
- Wussow, Felix, et al. "Neutralization of human cytomegalovirus entry into fibroblasts and epithelial cells." Vaccines 5.4 (2017): 39.
- Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
