Human CMV infections and fetus growth restrictions: detecting the virus

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the major cause of virus-related birth defects in newborns: between 0.5 to 2.5% of all newborns infected with CMV, 5-10% or those that are symptomatic (!) Intrauterine infection of the fetus could damage its central nervous system development, but the best it is known to be related to intrauterine growth restriction.

In a new study of of Pereira et al, 2014 (Intrauterine growth restriction caused by underlying congenital cytomegalovirus infection. J. Infect. Dis. 209, 1573-1584.), expression of CMV and its effects on placental development were studied. Although the maternal to fetus transmission of the virus occurs in 30% of all infected mothers, the authors conclude that CMV impairs the development of the placenta that leads to intrauterine growth restriction irrespective of the viral transmission to the fetus.

As this study required good preservation of cell and tissue morphology along with antigen recovery, the author's used 2100 Retriever to perform the IHC. Being a standard in quality epitope recovery, the Retriever now offers recovery of practically any epitope with R-Universal buffer.