Although cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are species-specific, the study of nonhuman CMVs in animal models can help to inform and direct research aimed at developing a human CMV (HCMV) vaccine. Because the driving force behind the development of HCMV vaccines is to prevent congenital infection, the animal model in question must be one in which vertical transmission of virus occurs to the fetus. Fortunately, two such animal models—the rhesus macaque CMV and guinea pig CMV—are characterized by congenital infection. Hence, each model can be evaluated in “proof-of-concept” studies of preconception vaccination aimed at blocking transplacental transmission. This review focuses on similarities and differences in the respective model systems, and it discusses key insights from each model germane to the study of HCMV vaccines.

中文翻译：

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先天性巨细胞病毒传播的动物模型：对疫苗开发的影响


尽管巨细胞病毒 (CMV) 具有物种特异性，但在动物模型中对非人类 CMV 的研究有助于为旨在开发人类 CMV (HCMV) 疫苗的研究提供信息和指导。由于HCMV疫苗开发的驱动力是预防先天性感染，因此所涉及的动物模型必须是病毒垂直传播给胎儿的动物模型。幸运的是，两种这样的动物模型——恒河猴 CMV 和豚鼠 CMV——都具有先天性感染的特征。因此，每个模型都可以在旨在阻止经胎盘传播的孕前疫苗接种的“概念验证”研究中进行评估。本综述重点关注各个模型系统的异同，并讨论了每个模型与 HCMV 疫苗研究密切相关的关键见解。