UL74 of human cytomegalovirus reduces the inhibitory effect of gH-specific and gB-specific antibodies

Xiao Jing Jiang; Kerstin Laib Sampaio; Nicole Ettischer; York-Dieter Stierhof; Gerhard Jahn; Barbara Kropff; Michael Mach; Christian Sinzger

doi:10.1007/s00705-011-1105-x

UL74 of human cytomegalovirus reduces the inhibitory effect of gH-specific and gB-specific antibodies

Arch Virol. 2011 Dec;156(12):2145-55. doi: 10.1007/s00705-011-1105-x. Epub 2011 Sep 22.

Authors

Xiao Jing Jiang¹, Kerstin Laib Sampaio, Nicole Ettischer, York-Dieter Stierhof, Gerhard Jahn, Barbara Kropff, Michael Mach, Christian Sinzger

Affiliation

¹ Institut für Medizinische Virologie, Universitätsklinikum, Tübingen, Germany.

PMID: 21938463
DOI: 10.1007/s00705-011-1105-x

Abstract

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoproteins gH (UL75) and gL (UL115) can form complexes with gO (UL74) or with proteins of the UL128-UL131A locus. Deletion of gO abolishes cell-free virus transmission and renders cell-associated virus transmission in fibroblasts more sensitive to inhibition by human anti-HCMV serum. To test whether the latter effect is specific for gO, we compared mutants with deletions in UL74, UL99 and the UL128-131A locus regarding their sensitivity to anti-HCMV antibodies. UL74 deletion mutants were more sensitive to a further restriction by polyspecific or gH-specific antibodies than control mutants, showing that gO specifically protects focal growth against inhibitory antibodies. This effect was not confined to gH-specific antibodies, as UL74 deletion mutants were also inhibited by an anti-gB antibody. In conclusion, gO specifically promotes focal spread in the presence of gH and gB antibodies, thus contributing to the ability of HCMV to resist the host's immune response.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Viral
Antibody Specificity
Base Sequence
Cells, Cultured
Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / genetics
Cytomegalovirus / genetics
Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
Cytomegalovirus / pathogenicity*
Cytomegalovirus / ultrastructure
Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology
Cytomegalovirus Infections / virology
DNA, Viral / genetics
Fibroblasts / virology
Genes, Viral
Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Humans
Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology*
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Molecular Sequence Data
Mutation
Sequence Deletion
Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*
Virulence / genetics
Virulence / immunology

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
DNA, Viral
Membrane Glycoproteins
Viral Envelope Proteins
glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus
glycoprotein H, Cytomegalovirus
glycoprotein O, cytomegalovirus