Recurrence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) from latency is a frequent cause of disease in immunocompromised patients. To date, there is no explanation for the diversity in the clinical manifestations. Primary infection can occur perinatally or later in life, and inevitably results in latent infection. Seropositivity for antibodies against CMV is indicative of latent infection, but is insufficient as a predictor for the risk of recurrence. As a model for this important medical problem, we compared the risks of murine CMV recurrence from latency established after neonatal primary infection and after infection at adult age. The risk of CMV recurrence was high only after neonatal infection. The copy number of latent viral genome in tissues was identified as the key parameter that determines the overall and organ-specific risks of recurrence. Latent CMV burden and risk of recurrence were related to the extent of virus multiplication during primary infection. The presence of latent CMV in multiple organs provides the molecular basis for stochastic events of recurrence in single organs or in any combination thereof. These findings are discussed as a concept of multifocal CMV latency and recurrence. It provides a rationale for the diversity in the clinical outcome of CMV disease.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 January 1994
Article|
January 01 1994
The conditions of primary infection define the load of latent viral genome in organs and the risk of recurrent cytomegalovirus disease.
M J Reddehase,
M J Reddehase
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Search for other works by this author on:
M Balthesen,
M Balthesen
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Search for other works by this author on:
M Rapp,
M Rapp
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Search for other works by this author on:
S Jonjić,
S Jonjić
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Search for other works by this author on:
I Pavić,
I Pavić
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Search for other works by this author on:
U H Koszinowski
U H Koszinowski
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Search for other works by this author on:
M J Reddehase
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
M Balthesen
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
M Rapp
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
S Jonjić
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
I Pavić
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
U H Koszinowski
Department of Virology, University of Ulm, Germany.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1994) 179 (1): 185–193.
Citation
M J Reddehase, M Balthesen, M Rapp, S Jonjić, I Pavić, U H Koszinowski; The conditions of primary infection define the load of latent viral genome in organs and the risk of recurrent cytomegalovirus disease.. J Exp Med 1 January 1994; 179 (1): 185–193. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.179.1.185
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionSuggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement