HCMV envelope antigens induce both humoral and cellular immunity in guinea pigs.

Antibody and cellular immunity were measured in guinea pigs immunized with whole virion, with nucleocapsids of human cytomegalovirus or with solubilized antigens containing virus envelope proteins. All the three types of immunogens induced the production of humoral antibody as well as cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cellular immunity. In immunization experiments envelope antigen was as effective as immunization with whole virion.