Cytomegalovirus Vaccine

A cytomegalovirus vaccine is a vaccine intended to prevent cytomegalovirus infection or to curb reactivation of the virus in people already infected. Developing such a vaccine is difficult because of the virus's adeptness at evading the immune system and the limited animal models available, and as of 2018 no vaccine existed, though several candidates, including recombinant protein, live attenuated and DNA vaccines, were under investigation. As a member of the TORCH group of infections, cytomegalovirus can cause congenital infection leading to neurological problems and vision or hearing loss, and infection or reactivation in immunocompromised people, including organ transplant recipients, causes significant illness and death; the virus has also been implicated in chronic conditions including atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, with recent studies suggesting a possible link to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Because of this, considerable effort has gone into vaccine development, with particular emphasis on protecting pregnant women, and the United States National Vaccine Program Office has named such a vaccine a priority.