Dear Colleagues, 

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common infectious cause of congenital malformations, with developmental delay, sensorineural hearing loss and fetal death in 10-15% of cases. HCMV can also cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients (HIV positive and solid organ transplant or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients). Currently, there is no approved vaccine for the prevention of CMV infection. Three major molecules, ganciclovir (GCV), cidofovir (CDV) and foscarnet (FOS), all targeting the HCMV polymerase pUL54, are routinely used for prevention and treatment of HCMV infection in the transplant setting. In these patients, emergence of CMV drug-resistance is a growing therapeutic challenge that is added to the toxicity of the molecules. As they have hematologic and renal toxicity, these drugs are not recommended for administration in pregnant women and their use could be limited in transplant setting. Developing low toxicity drugs and vaccines are accordingly a major public health priority.

This Special Issue focuses on the recent development of novel targets, HCMV drugs, on existing vaccines in development, and recent novel advances such as mRNA prophylactic vaccines.

Dr. Sébastien Hantz
Dr. Gaëtan Ligat
Guest Editors

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• Herpesviruses
• Human cytomegalovirus
• Vaccines
• Targets
• Drugs