GLYCOPROTEIN-B GENOTYPE OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS - DISTRIBUTION IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Glycoprotein B (gB) is involved in cell to cell transmission of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and may be a critical factor in tissue tropism and viral pathogenesis. We analyzed the distribution of the four known gB genotypes of HCMV in 99 HIV-positive patients, 29 patients had HCM V retinitis, and 70 patients had asymptomatic HCMV infection. DNA was isolated from blood, urine, and aqueous humor, and gB genotypes were d etermined by PCR and restriction analysis. Infections with gB type I w ere less frequent in patients with retinitis than in patients with asy mptomatic HCMV infection (17% versus 37%; p = 0.05), Furthermore, the gB type was correlated with dissemination of infection. In patients wi th HCMV detected in only one compartment (blood or urine) the gB type 1 was found more frequently than in patients with HCMV detected in at least two compartments (p = 0.01), The data show that gB genotypes dif fer in their association with clinical disease, and indicate that the gB genotype may contribute to the course of HCMV infection.