Progress Toward Developing a Cytomegalovirus Vaccine

Vaccination against cytomegalovirus

Like varicella zoster virus (VZV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes disease after both primary and recurrent infections. The former is more serious, particularly in pregnant women, who may transmit the virus to their offspring, with a high risk of mental retardation and deafness. Various experimental vaccines are in development, ranging from live, attenuated HCMV, subunit envelope glycoprotein, poxvirus vectors with CMV genes inserted, and plasmid DANN.

Anti-idiotypic mimicry of a neutralizing epitope on the glycoprotein B complex of human cytomegalovirus

Experiments were carried out to investigate the ability of rabbit anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2), directed against an anti-human cytomegalovirus monoclonal antibody (Ab1), to induce neutralizing antibodies specific for the immunodominant glycoprotein B viral complex. Mice immunized with Ab2 produced anti-Ab2 (Ab3) that was both antigen and idiotype specific with regard to Ab1. We conclude that the Ab2 antibodies mimicked a neutralizing epitope and acted as a network antigen for inducing a specific anti-human cytomegalovirus antibody response in this experimental system.

Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in women bearing children in Jefferson County, Kentucky

Symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease occurs almost exclusively in infants born to seronegative mothers who acquire the virus during pregnancy. This study sought to determine patterns of CMV immunity in women of childbearing age at one center participating in a national study. Cord blood specimens from 100 consecutive deliveries at each of three hospitals were tested for CMV-specific IgG. Mean age of women in this sample was 25.7 years; 76% were white, 60% were from middle and upper socioeconomic status, 64% were married, and 57% had other living children. Overall seroprevalence rate was 62%. Univariate analysis showed strong associations between seropositivity and lower socioeconomic status, non-white race, and age younger than 25 years (odds ratios, 4.4, 3.9, and 2.5, respectively). Stratification by socioeconomic status and race eliminated the effect of age. Stratification by socioeconomic status markedly reduced the effect of race, whereas stratification by race only moderately reduced the effect of lower socioeconomic status, which was the strongest predictor of seropositivity (odds ratio, 3.4). Seroprevalence was lowest among older white women of middle and upper socioeconomic status (47% seropositive). Development of longitudinal regional seroprevalence data will facilitate interpretation of data generated by the National CMV Registry.