The interaction between cytomegalovirus and the human immune system

Studies on antiviral immunity in man are hampered by the impossibility to standardize the infection as is done in experimental animal studies. An exception is the occurrence of cytomegalovirus infection transmitted by a donor organ into a transplant-recipient, where the time-point of infection is exactly known. Moreover, its strong interaction with the human immune system during evolution and the strong immunogenic properties of this persistent virus, as well as the need for intervention e.g. by vaccine development, all make studies towards the immune response against just this virus very attractive and relevant. In this work, we will present an overview of the studies on this topic that were performed in the departments of Experimental and Clinical Immunology in the AMC and Sanquin in Amsterdam.