CMV

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a double-stranded DNA virus and is a member of the ubiquitous family of herpesviruses. Cytomegaloviruses escape immunological clearance and persist throughout life in the infected host. Yet, the stability of the balance of this virus-host interaction is dependent upon the state of the cellular immune response, and usually requires the function of specific CD8 T lymphocytes.

Human cytomegalovirus is a member of the viral family known as herpesviruses, Herpesviridae, or human herpesvirus-5 (HHV-5). Human cytomegalovirus infections commonly are associated with the salivary glands. CMV infection may be asymptomatic in healthy people, but it can be life-threatening in an immunocompromised patient. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection can cause morbidity and even death. After infection, CMV often remains latent, but it can reactivate at any time. Eventually, it causes mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and it may be responsible for prostate cancer.