Evidence for Early Membrane Antigens in Cytomegalovirus-infected Cells

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induces membrane antigens (MA) which are detectable by immunofluorescent techniques as early as 24 h after infection. These antigens appear on the surface of infected cells in non-permissive human epithelioid and animal cells in addition to permissive human cells. The synthesis of the MA occurs in the presence of a DNA synthesis inhibitor, whereas RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors prevent its formation completely. These results demonstrate that the MA is a newly synthesized protein coded by an early function of the viral genome.