Immunoprophylaxis of experimental cytomegalovirus infection.

Experimental MCMV infection simulates human disease. Since human CMV has no experimental animal, the murine model is useful to study mechanism of immunity to CMV and immunoprophylaxis of CMV infection. The live attenuated MCMV, obtained by serial passages in MEF, was effective in immunization of mice against fatal MCMV infection. Every parameter of the MCMV infection was nullified by the prior immunization. The protective immunity was cell-mediated and independent of antibody production. The sensitized T lymphocyte interfered with virus replication in vitro and in vivo. Efficacy and possible risk of a human CMV vaccine were discussed with the murine model.