Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of Herpesviridae, which includes other viruses such as herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus . CMV is a double-stranded linear DNA virus with a complex structure, including 162 hexagonal protein capsomeres surrounded by a lipid membrane . It has the largest genome among the herpes viruses, ranging from 230-240 kilobase pairs .
The CMV Pp38 (UL80a) protein is a phosphoprotein that plays a crucial role in the virus’s life cycle. It is derived from the E. coli bacterium and contains the immunodominant regions of the CMV Pp38 (UL80a) protein, specifically amino acids 117-373 . This recombinant protein is approximately 52.8 kDa in size and is purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques to achieve a purity of over 95% .
CMV Pp38 (UL80a) is considered one of the most common viral infections in humans. While the virus rarely causes disease in healthy individuals, it can persist as a latent or chronic infection in various tissues, including the salivary glands, renal tubules, cervix, and leukocytes . CMV infections can be severe in newborns and immunocompromised individuals, such as patients with AIDS, cancer patients, and organ transplant recipients .
The recombinant CMV Pp38 (UL80a) protein is highly immunoreactive with sera from CMV-infected individuals, making it an excellent antigen for use in ELISA and Western blot assays . These assays are essential for detecting CMV infections with minimal specificity problems .
CMV infections can lead to various medical conditions, including interstitial pneumonia, mononucleosis (heterophile negative), congenital defects, abortion, mental retardation, blindness, and deafness . The transmission of CMV through transfused blood is a significant concern for organ transplant recipients, neonates, and heart surgery patients .