AD2

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)constitutes a serious threat to congenitally infected newborns and immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients and transplant recipients, while the infection in most cases is asymptomatic in healthy individuals. The humoral immune response against HCMV is directed toward a number of proteins, among which glycoprotein B (gB)is particularly interesting due to its role in the infection process and its prominent immunogenicity. gB is a highly abundant component of the envelope of virions, which mediates membrane penetration, cell-to-cell spread, and membrane fusion processes.