Molecular Variations in Glycoprotein B of Asian Human Cytomegalovirus: Potential Impact on Virus Entry and Immune Evasion in Ocular Diseases.

ABSTRACT: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-associated ocular diseases have gained increasing attention due to a recent rise in cases diagnosed in Asia. A glycoprotein encoded by the virus UL55 gene, glycoprotein B (gB), is essential for viral entry and a primary target for naturally-produced antibodies and vaccine development. gB is classified into five genotypes (gB1-gB5) based on polymorphisms surrounding the furin cleavage site. This study analyzed the UL55 gene in 62 blood and ocular specimens of Japanese patients with CMV viremia and CMV-associated ocular diseases. Distinct gB genotype distributions were found between sample types (p = 0.008): gB2 was the most prevalent genotype in blood samples (41%, 11/27), while gB3 (43%, 15/35) and gB1 (37%, 13/35) predominated in ocular fluids. Viral loads wer

SUBMITTER: Lestari T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12778896 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature