Cytomegalovirus envelope glycoprotein H (gH)

Cytomegalovirus envelope glycoprotein H (gH) is a critical viral protein essential for mediating virus entry into host cells. It forms heterodimeric complexes with glycoprotein L (gL), resulting in the gH/gL complex, which further associates with other proteins to form the trimeric gH/gL/gO complex and the pentameric gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A complex. These complexes mediate fusion between the viral envelope and host cell membranes, enabling virus entry into target cells such as fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. gH also acts as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognized by TLR2, triggering inflammatory cytokine responses. Due to its central role in virus entry and strong immunogenicity, gH is an important focus for CMV vaccine strategies.

Neutralizing antibodies targeting gH prevent viral entry into host cells.