Current strategies and future directions for the prevention of transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a pervasive DNA virus that infects a significant portion of individuals worldwide, and may be transmitted through the transfusion of blood products. Although CMV infection is of little consequence in immunocompetent individuals, patients with an impaired immune system are at risk of significant morbidity and mortality. Unlike other blood-borne infectious agents, it is impractical to defer all CMV-positive individuals from blood donation as this would exclude a substantial number of otherwise eligible donors. Other methods such as transfusion of CMV-seronegative and leukoreduced blood products must be employed to prevent the transmission of CMV to at-risk patients. In this study, the widespread use of current strategies for the prevention of transfusion-transmitted CMV (TT-CMV) infection and the evidence to support these methods in various at-risk groups were reviewed. In addition, emerging pathogen inactivation technologies that have the potential to eliminate TT-CMV were also discussed.

Ability of the immune system to fight viruses highlighted by cytometry and TCR clonotype assessments: lessons taken prior to COVID-19 virus pandemic outbreak

“…When the immune response fails, not preventing the reactivation of the virus, we observe the presence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in blood, which may further shift to immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, witnessing the persistence of CMV ready to reactivate. 8 Reactivation events depend on the function of T -cells facing chronic viral infection: 1 Reactivation takes place not only when CD4 + cells decrease in number but also when they are less efficient in interferon γ production. Our own study showed that a number of CD4 + cells below 10% of all lymphocytes and an interferon γ genotype associated with a low generation potential constitute risk factors for CMV reactivation.…”