# Project 2: Virologic determinants of cCMV

> **NIH NIH P01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $21,517

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – Project 2: Viral determinants of fetal RhCMV transmission
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading infectious cause of congenital disease in newborns, and the
development of treatments and preventative measures requires a better understanding of the viral
determinants enabling fetal transmission in CMV-naïve and CMV-immune individuals. Since HCMV is highly
species-restricted, animal models of congenital infection by the corresponding animal CMVs are used to study
congenital infection. Recent advances in non-human primate models for the first time enable the study of fetal
transmission in a host that is anatomically very similar to humans by a virus that is highly homologous to
HCMV. The goal of this project is therefore to use this model to identify and characterize viral determinants
facilitating fetal transmission to ultimately support the development of specific countermeasures. Specifically,
we will examine whether fetal transmission correlates with viremia and viral dissemination in the pregnant
female. We will further examine the role of viral cell tropism in fetal infection and examine the hypothesis that
the efficacy of antiviral antibodies is limited by viral Fc receptors. To enable the genetic manipulation of
RhCMV that is required to address these questions we generated a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)
clone representative of a low passage isolate and demonstrated fetal transmission of BAC-derived RhCMV.
Using this BAC we will take advantage of our observation that RhCMV lacking the immunodominant major
tegument protein pp65 displayed dramatically increased replication and dissemination in RhCMV-naïve
animals to examine the role of viremia and viral dissemination in fetal transmission (Aim 1). We will further
experimentally address the role of the cell tropism-determining pentameric glycoprotein complex
gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A in maternal/fetal transmission (Aim 2). The pentameric complex is currently a
major target for vaccine development, but preliminary data unexpectedly revealed increased transmission of
virus lacking this complex. Finally, we will determine whether viral Fc-Receptors limit the efficacy of
hyperimmunoglobulin treatment to limit viral dissemination (Aim 3). This project will both benefit from and
impact the studies described in Project 1 and require the services of all four cores. We anticipate that this
project will impact the design of prophylactic and therapeutic CMV vaccines and that it will reveal novel
approaches to improve antibody-based therapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982193
- **Project number:** 5P01AI129859-02
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Sallie R. Permar
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $21,517
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2020-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982193

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982193, Project 2: Virologic determinants of cCMV (5P01AI129859-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982193. Licensed CC0.

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