Background: Although primary maternal cytomegalovirus infections are associated with higher risk of in utero transmission, most fetal infections worldwide result from nonprimary maternal infections. Antibodies directed at glycoprotein B (gB) and the gH/gL/pUL128–130–131 pentamer can neutralize virus, and higher levels of antibody directed at several particular pentamer epitopes defined by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are associated with reduced risk of fetal cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission during primary maternal infection. This had not been explored in maternal nonprimary infection.

Author List: Dorfman JR, Balla SR, Pathirana J, Groome MJ, Madhi SA, Moore PL.

Journal Name: Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 9:ciab099. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab099. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33560335.