MOLECULAR-CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF RECEPTOR PEPTIDES THAT BLOCK HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS CELL-FUSION

Clones expressing a partial human cytomegalovirus putative fusion rece ptor were selected by binding specifically to monoclonal anti-idiotypi c antibodies that mimic glycoprotein H. cDNA was isolated from 2 of th e clones (131 and 611) and fused in frame with the,glutathione S-trans ferase gene in a pGEX-4T-1 vector. Two purified peptides (FR131 and FR 611) were produced: both were shown to bind specifically to the monocl onal anti-idiotypic antibodies and inhibit virus/cell fusion and viral plaque formation in a specific and dose-dependent manner. This is the first demonstration of cloned peptides encoding a putative cell membr ane receptor that are able to block cytomegalovirus infection. (C) 199 6 Academic Press, Inc.