Human cytomegalovirus immune evasion of natural killer cells: a virus for all seasons?

Preston, Hannah, Casey, Rowan, Ferris, Elizabeth, Kerr-Jones, Lauren, Jones, Lauren, Latif, Farah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0576-9623, Clement, Mathew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9280-5281, Aicheler, Rebecca J., Wang, Eddie C. Y. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2243-4964, Stanton, Richard J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6799-1182 and Fielding, Ceri A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5817-3153 2025. Human cytomegalovirus immune evasion of natural killer cells: a virus for all seasons? Pathogens 14 (7) , 629. 10.3390/pathogens14070629

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Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous member of the herpesvirus family, of significant clinical importance, and highly adapted to its host, resulting from millions of years of co-evolution. As a result, the virus systematically subverts almost all aspects of antiviral immune defence to successfully establish a lifelong persistent infection, and in the process, dramatically reshapes the phenotype and function of host immunity to both HCMV and other diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of successful herpesvirus control. Here, we discuss their role in modulating HCMV disease and the multitude of ways that HCMV has evolved to prevent and manipulate this process. We also consider how antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by NK cells directed against HCMV might overcome NK immune evasion mechanisms and be useful therapeutically.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine Research Institutes & Centres > Systems Immunity Research Institute (SIURI)
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2076-0817
Funders:	MRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 July 2025
Date of Acceptance:	14 June 2025
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 11:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/179391

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