Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is currently a major cause of congenital disease in newborns and organ failure in transplant recipients. Various vaccine strategies have been developed, including live attenuated, recombinant viral proteins, dense bodies, vector vaccine subunit, or synthetic peptide epitopes. The rabbit polyclonal anti-gM and anti-gN antibodies were elicited by vaccinating animals with synthesized peptide sequences of gM (1-13aa and 345-372aa) and gN (61-101aa). Animal immunization and sera collection were performed at Lifetein, LLC (Hillsborough, NJ, USA). The sera were affinity-purified by its corresponding peptides.
These formulations have been extensively tested using different animal models and have shown promising immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Some of these strategies have already progressed to clinical trials with humans. The study was studied by Vaccine Analytical Research Development and Vaccine Process Development Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
