title: Evaluation of UL99 transcript as a target for antiviral treatment efficacy.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a virus belonging to the Beta Herpes virus family. Its genome contains many different genes clustered in immediate early, early and late genes. This last cluster includes UL99, a late gene that encodes for a tegument protein called pp28. In immunocompetent patients, HCMV infection occurs asymptomatically, while its reactivation in immunocompromised patients can be a cause of pneumonia, retinitis and gastrointestinal diseases. To prevent or to contrast HCMV infection, several drugs (such as Ganciclovir, Acyclovir, Foscarnet) are available, and their efficiency is evaluated by HCMV DNA load monitoring, as also for antiviral resistance onset that may occur after the therapy. In this study is described the development of a Real Time PCR for the detection and quantification of UL99 transcript and the clearance of this target compared to HCMV DNA, both in vitro and in vivo on bronchoalveolar lavage samples.
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy. Electronic address: stefano.gambarino@unito.it.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Gambarino
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Callea
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy.
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Rizzo
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Montanari
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Loiacono
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Medical School, Turin, Italy.
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Bergallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C090378:UL99 protein, cytomegalovirus; D014764:Viral Proteins
keywords: Antiviral resistance; Ganciclovir; Human cytomegalovirus; Real Time PCR; Transcript quantification; UL99