Key result
Absence of UL88 reduces HCMV virion fitness by disrupting proper tegument composition.
Why the study?
Many tegument proteins in HCMV remain uncharacterized, and functionally annotating these genes is important for understanding HCMV biology and identifying novel therapeutic targets.
The viral tegument protein UL88 is required for maintaining proper tegument composition and optimal fitness of HCMV virions.
UL88 disruption attenuates HCMV fitness; leaves open whether tegument proteins can be targeted for antivirals in vivo.
A better understanding of the role and functions of tegument proteins in HCMV, many of which remain uncharacterized, will contribute to our understanding of the biology of HCMV. The virus has a large genome, greater than 230 kb, and functional annotation of these genes is important for identifying novel targets for improving therapeutic intervention. This study identifies a role for a viral tegument protein with unknown function, UL88, in maintaining the proper tegument composition of HCMV virions. Virions produced in the absence of UL88 exhibit decreased fitness and require more genomes per infectious unit.
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Kumar et al. (2020) studied Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Absence of UL88 vs. Presence of UL88 (Wild-type) was evaluated on Virion fitness and genomes per infectious unit. Virions produced in the absence of UL88 exhibit decreased fitness and require more genomes per infectious unit, demonstrating its role in maintaining proper tegument composition of HCMV virions.
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