New research in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology presents an approach to fight against a common virus that affects more than 50% of all people over 40 year old. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a contagious virus that spreads via bodily secretions, usually doesn’t cause symptoms. For babies and people with weakened immune systems, however, CMV infection may cause serious complications affecting the eyes, lungs, liver, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Treatment options for CMV are limited. The newest study, led by Deborah H Spector & Gene W Yeo from University of California at San Diego, USA, revealed that cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is dependent on a human protein termed CPEB1, and targeting CPEB1 could be a way to fight against CMV. CMV is a common virus that can infect anyone. Over half of adults by age 40 have infected with it. But most CMV-infected people do not know it because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms. For babies and people with weakened immune systems, however, CMV infection may cause serious complications. Treatment options for CMV are limited. The study showed that CPEB1, which is an RNA-binding protein in humans, plays a key role in CMV infection. The researchers found that the levels of CPEB1 are significantly increased in human cells infected with CMV, resulting in abnormal processing of RNAs. Moreover, CPEB1 is required for correct processing of viral RNAs important for productive infection. Viruses can utilize the molecular machinery in host cells to ensure their own replication. Once infected with viruses, human cells undergo abnormal changes. As a result, new virus particles are produced and they can infect other cells. Notably, the researchers found that depletion of CPEB1 reversed these harmful changes and decreased productive CMV titers. Furthermore, host RNA processing was also altered in herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2)-infected cells. Collectively, blocking RNA-binding proteins may be an approach to treat CMV and other herpesvirus infection. CusAb, a manufacturer of proteins and antibodies, has the ability to offer high-quality product like polyclonal antibody.
