Merck, MAB810R, Anti-Cytomegalovirus Antibody, clone 8B1.2

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that belongs to the herpes adenovirus family. The viral life cycle takes approximately seventy two hours. After the initial fusion of the viral envelope with the plasma membrane of the cell, the encapisidated virus particle is released into the cytoplasm and within minutes, transits to the nucleus. Via active transport through the nuclear pore, the capsid gains entry and viral DNA is deposited. Viral gene expression then occurs in a temporally regulated manner, first with expression of the immediate early genes, followed by the early genes, then, after viral replication has commenced, the late genes. All of the immediate early proteins have been shown to be transactivators, with IE1-72 and IE2-86 being the most well characterized. These genes regulate the expression of factors required for virus replication.