HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN-B GENOTYPES RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Based on sequence variation of the glycoprotein B (gB) gene, human cyt omegalovirus (HCMV) strains can be classified into four gB genotypes. In a previous study of bone marrow transplant recipients, infection wi th the gB type 1 correlated with a more favorable clinical outcome tha n infection with the gB types 2, 3, or 4. The gB type was determined i n 60 renal transplant and in 47 bone marrow transplant recipients usin g PCR and restriction analysis. All HCMV variants in patient specimens could be assigned to one of the four previously described gB types. T wo or more specimens obtained from 39 patients were analysed; in 31 of these patients the gB type was the same in all samples. The gB type d id not correlate with the clinical outcome or the level of viremia in renal transplant recipients. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.