microorganisms Review Where do we Stand after Decades of Studying Human Cytomegalovirus? 1, 2, 1 1 Francesca Gugliesi y, Alessandra Coscia y, Gloria Griffante , Ganna Galitska , Selina Pasquero 1, Camilla Albano 1 and Matteo Biolatti 1,* 1 Laboratory of Pathogenesis of Viral Infections, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
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[email protected] (C.A.) 2 Complex Structure Neonatology Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
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[email protected] These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 19 March 2020; Accepted: 5 May 2020; Published: 8 May 2020 Abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a linear double-stranded DNA betaherpesvirus belonging to the family of Herpesviridae, is characterized by widespread seroprevalence, ranging between 56% and 94%, strictly dependent on the socioeconomic background of the country being considered. Typically, HCMV causes asymptomatic infection in the immunocompetent population, while in immunocompromised individuals or when transmitted vertically from the mother to the fetus it leads to systemic disease with severe complications and high mortality rate. Following primary infection, HCMV establishes a state of latency primarily in myeloid cells, from which it can be reactivated by various inflammatory stimuli. Several studies have shown that HCMV, despite being a DNA virus, is highly prone to genetic variability that strongly influences its replication and dissemination rates as well as cellular tropism. In this scenario, the few currently available drugs for the treatment of HCMV infections are characterized by high toxicity, poor oral bioavailability, and emerging resistance.