[Antigens of human cytomegalovirus]

In considering HCMV antigens one must take into consideration not only structural proteins of virus particles but also HCMV specific proteins associated with the infected cell, for all of these proteins may play a part in eliciting an humoral and/or cell-mediated immune response in the infected individual. The virion is composed of some 35 polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from 12 000 to more than 200 000 daltons (Table I). Viral polypeptide synthesis at the level of the infected cell occurs in three waves, the immediate early, the early and the late (Table II). During the immediate early and early phases a dozen polypeptides appear. Two glycoproteins appear during the early period but these are poorly represented in the virion. Many antigens have been described both in the cytoplasm and nucleus during these periods (Table II). Viral DNA synthesis marks the beginning of the late phase of virus replication. Many new proteins and glycoproteins appear but not all of them will become part of the virus particle (Table II). It is interesting to compare the kinetics of appearance of antibodies as detected by different serodiagnostic techniques, at the time of primary infection, with the location of the antigens which these antibodies detect in the infected cells (Table III). CMV-IgM, the first antibodies to be detected, react with late appearing intracellular nuclear inclusion antigens. This contrasts with the relatively long time required for the development of neutralizing antibodies which react with antigens accessible not only on the viral envelope and at the infected cell membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)