Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Mar 2020)

Expanding the Known Functional Repertoire of the Human Cytomegalovirus pp71 Protein

  • Robert F. Kalejta,
  • Emily R. Albright

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00095
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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The human cytomegalovirus pp71 protein is packaged within the tegument of infectious virions and performs multiple functions in host cells to prime them for productive, lytic replication. Here we review the known and hypothesized functions of pp71 in regulating proteolysis, infection outcome (lytic or latent), histone deposition, transcription, translation, immune evasion, cell cycle progression, and pathogenesis. We also highlight recent advances in CMV-based vaccine candidates informed by an improved understanding of pp71 function.

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