Characterization of a biological active soluble Human Cytomegalovirus gH/gL/pUL128/130/131 pentameric complex

Congenital infection of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is one of the leading causes of non-genetic birth defects, and development of a prophylactic vaccine against HCMV is a top priority for public health. The gH/gL/pUL128-131 pentameric complex mediates HCMV entry into endothelial and epithelial cells, and it is a major target for neutralizing antibody responses. To better understand the mechanism by which antibodies interact with the epitopes of the gH/gL/pUL128-131 pentameric complex resulting in viral neutralization, we expressed and purified soluble gH/gL/pUL128-131 pentameric complex and gH/gL from Chinese hamster ovary cells. Our results highlight the importance of the gH/gL/pUL128-131 pentameric complex in HCMV vaccine design and emphasize the necessity to monitor the integrity of the pentameric complex during vaccine manufacturing process.