title: Models of vertical cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission and pathogenesis.
abstract: Despite the considerable clinical impact of congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection, the mechanisms of maternal-fetal transmission and the resultant placental and fetal damage are largely unknown. Here, we discuss animal models for the evaluation of CMV vaccines and virus-induced pathology and particularly explore surrogate human models for HCMV transmission and pathogenesis in the maternal-fetal interface. Studies in floating and anchoring placental villi and more recently, ex vivo modeling of HCMV infection in integral human decidual tissues, provide unique insights into patterns of viral tropism, spread, and injury, defining the outcome of congenital infection, and the effect of potential antiviral interventions.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Virology Unit, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Yiska
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weisblum
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panet
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haimov-Kochman
authors.forename: Dana G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy