HCMV can be transmitted perinatally, with sometimes tragic consequences for the developing fetus or newborn. It is a devastating opportunistic pathogen for transplant recipients, AIDS patients, and other immune compromised individuals, and also is implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease.
Several projects are ongoing.
Current research aims to understand how this origin works and how it is regulated. Second, we defined the HCMV genes encoding proteins essential for ori Lyt-mediated DNA synthesis, and are using genetic, biochemical, and structural methods to understand the functions of these replication and regulatory proteins. Lastly, we are making recombinant viruses to investigate aspects of viral latency and pathogenesis. Soluble expression and complex formation of proteins required for HCMV DNA replication using the SFV expression system. The acidic domain of pUL37x1 and gpUL37 plays a key role in transactivation of HCMV DNA replication gene promoter constructions.