Cytomegalovirus Gene Function And Methods For the development of Antivirals, Anti-CMV Vaccines And CMV-based Vectors

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is among the largest of the DNA viruses and infects various tissue and cell types and, hence, is responsible for a myriad of complications. HCMV is also the virus most frequently transmitted to a developing child before birth. HCMV also remains the most important cause of congenital viral infection in the United States. Generalized infection may occur in the infant if infected before birth, and symptoms may range from moderate enlargement of the liver and spleen (with jaundice) to fatal illness. With supportive treatment most infants with CMV disease usually survive. For all these reasons, methods of controlling and preventing HCMV infection are of broad interest to the scientific community, pharmaceutical and biotech industry. 

UC Berkeley researchers performed a systematic analysis of the HCMV genome and identified 45 viral ORFs essential for viral replication and characterizes of 115 growth-dispensable viral genes.  The researchers then developed a method for identifying biologically active agents that modulate cytomegalovirus replication.

Patent Status