Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a member of the Betaherpesvirinae sub-family of Herpesviridae family, is a widespread pathogen that infects a majority of the world's population by early adulthood. In individuals whose immune systems are immature or weakened, HCMV is a significant pathogen causing morbidity and mortality. There is no effective vaccine and only limited antiviral treatments against HCMV infection to date. A possible target for novel antiviral treatments is the HCMV proteins that localize to the tegument of the virion, since they play important roles in all stages of the viral life cycle, including, viral entry, gene expression, immune evasion, assembly, and egress. The most likely tegument protein candidates are pp65 (immune evasion), pp71 (gene expression), and pp150 and pp28 (assembly and egress). Although the subcellular localization of these proteins has been identified during HCMV infections in vitro, their localization patterns have not been determined when each protein is expressed individually in living cells. Thus, the objective of this review is elucidate the HCMV tegument as well as present current research findings concerning the subcellular localization of the tegument proteins pp65, pp71, pp150, and pp28 as fusions to one of several fluorescent proteins.
Highlights
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a member of the Betaherpesvirinae sub-family of Herpesviridae family, is a widespread pathogen that infects a majority of the world’s population by early adulthood
By the age of 40, between 50 and 85% of adults are infected by HCMV [2]
HCMV is responsible for approximately 8% of infectious mononucleosis cases [6] and is the leading viral cause of birth defects often causing deafness and mental retardation in the fetus if a woman is infected during pregnancy [7]
Summary
Sinclair J, Sissons P: Latency and reactivation of human cytomegalovirus. Irmiere A, Gibson W: Isolation and characterization of a noninfectious virion-like particle released from cells infected with human strains of cytomegalovirus. Chen DH, Jiang H, Lee M, Liu F, Zhou ZH: Three-dimensional visualization of tegument/capsid interactions in the intact human cytomegalovirus.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have