Faculty Collaboration Database

Detection of a single identical cytomegalovirus (CMV) strain in recently seroconverted young women. PLoS One 2011 Jan 10;6(1):e15949

Date

01/26/2011

Pubmed ID

21264339

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3018470

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0015949

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79251582817 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   25 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Infection with multiple CMV strains is common in immunocompromised hosts, but its occurrence in normal hosts has not been well-studied.

METHODS: We analyzed CMV strains longitudinally in women who acquired CMV while enrolled in a CMV glycoprotein B (gB) vaccine trial. Sequencing of four variable genes was performed in samples collected from seroconversion and up to 34 months thereafter.

RESULTS: 199 cultured isolates from 53 women and 65 original fluids from a subset of 19 women were sequenced. 51 women were infected with one strain each without evidence for genetic drift; only two women shed multiple strains. Genetic variability among strains increased with the number of sequenced genetic loci. Nevertheless, 13 of 53 women proved to be infected with an identical CMV strain based on sequencing at all four variable genes. CMV vaccine did not alter the degree of genetic diversity amongst strains.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary CMV infection in healthy women nearly always involves shedding of one strain that remains stable over time. Immunization with CMVgB-1 vaccine strain is not selective against specific strains. Although 75% of women harbored their unique strain, or a strain shared with only one other woman, 25% shared a single common strain, suggesting that this predominant strain with a particular combination of genetic loci is advantageous in this large urban area.

Author List

Murthy S, Hayward GS, Wheelan S, Forman MS, Ahn JH, Pass RF, Arav-Boger R

Author

Ravit Boger MD Chief, Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Base Sequence
Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus Infections
Cytomegalovirus Vaccines
Female
Genetic Variation
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Molecular Sequence Data
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Species Specificity
Viral Proteins
Young Adult