Human cytomegalovirus UL130 protein (UL130)

The Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL130 protein is a critical subunit of the gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A pentameric complex (PC), which is essential for the virus to infect epithelial, endothelial, and myeloid cells (UniProt P16844; PubMed: 28834800). While the gH/gL/gO trimer is sufficient for entry into fibroblasts, the UL130 protein, together with UL128 and UL131A, expands the viral tropism, allowing HCMV to cross placental and blood-brain barriers (PubMed: 15709021). Because the pentameric complex is the primary target of the potent neutralizing antibody response in naturally infected individuals, UL130 is a major focus for vaccine development and passive immunotherapy (PubMed: 22171217). Current therapeutic strategies include mRNA-based vaccines, such as mRNA-1647, which encode all five subunits of the pentameric complex to elicit broad-spectrum immunity (PubMed: 34161747). Inhibiting UL130 or the wider PC assembly prevents the initial stages of viral attachment and membrane fusion in clinically relevant cell types, potentially reducing the incidence of congenital HCMV and complications in transplant recipients (PubMed: 30045989). Neutralizing antibodies directed against the UL130/UL131A interface are among the most potent inhibitors of HCMV infection known, making this protein a high-priority target for clinical intervention (PubMed: 24391262).

Other names

Protein UL130Human herpesvirus 5 UL130HCMV UL130 subunitgH/gL/UL128-131A complex subunit

Neutralization of viral entry into epithelial, endothelial, and myeloid cells by blocking the pentameric complex (gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A) mediated fusion with the host cell membrane.