CYTOMEGALOVIRUSES USE MULTIPLE MECHANISMS TO ELUDE THE HOST IMMUNE-RESPONSE

The study of the effects of cytomegaloviruses on the MHC class I-restr icted antigen presentation pathway has yielded an embarrassment of ric hes. The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes at least five to six dif ferent glycoproteins, each interfering in a different way with elimina tion of the virus by the host immune system, Most likely, it is the co ncerted action of these glycoproteins that allows HCMV to escape from elimination by the host immune system during acute and perhaps also pe rsistent infection. Prime targets of these CMV glycoproteins are MHC c lass I glycoproteins: the very molecules that signal the presence of a virally infected cell to the immune system. Recently, several novel l inks in the multi-step process of immune evasion by HCMV have been dis covered. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.