Developing a hybrid CMV Vaccine

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), upon entering the cell, releases a highly evolved protein arsenal to disrupt cellular defenses. One strategy to defeat the virus in humans may be to use a murine version of the pathogen, MCMV. Interspecies infections are inefficient because the mouse virus is attuned to infecting mice and is blocked in humans at several steps in its life cycle, especially at PML bodies in the nucleus. By adding certain human genes, researchers may be able to create a hybrid virus that overcomes these blocks and produces enough infection to elicit long lasting immunity.

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In the battle between host and viral proteins, viral pp71 suppresses Daxx activity, and the splicing variant of the immediate early gene, IE1 represses Daxx and HDACs. IE1 and IE2 facilitate expression of the early protein 112/113. 112/113 blocks some of...

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In the battle between host and viral proteins, viral pp71 suppresses Daxx activity, and the splicing variant of the immediate early gene, IE1 represses Daxx and HDACs. IE1 and IE2 facilitate expression of the early protein 112/113. 112/113 blocks some of the activity of the IE2 splicing variant, which normally blocks expression of the immediate early genes.

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