LAUSR

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridea family. Its transmission, through different fluids such as saliva, sexual contact, blood, and breast milk, makes its prevalence high, and the probability of infection increases with age. The implications of acute infection are of relevance for immunocompromised individuals (such as neonates and transplantation patients), and such CMV infections can lead to long lasting complications and even mortality. CMV is also of importance for the healthy population due to its chronicity and latency throughout the life of the infected individual. The development of an inflationary immune response over the years, which is not fully clarified, is a wide field of research where we can deepen our knowledge on the CMV-host interactions. This Research Topic gives us a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of CMV infection in various situations, as well as its possible solution or attenuation. This monograph includes thirteen articles: nine original articles and four review articles. The authors invited scientific collaborators to this collection based on their unique and specific findings on CMV under physiological and pathological conditions including: (a) mechanisms regulating CMV immune evasion, (b) the role of CMV in the alterations suffered by the immune system in patients with inflammatory chronic diseases, (c) CMV infection in the context of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, (d) influence of CMV infection on the immunosenescence process associated to aging and (e) therapeutic opportunities in the management of CMV disease. In the article by Reus et al., sex differences in the response of T lymphocytes to different CMV proteins are explored. The response of both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was greater and more proinflammatory in men than in women. These findings may help understand sex differences in CMV-associated pathologies. Jackson et al. analyzed the effect of latent CMV infection on the secretome of CD14+ monocytes, finding an increase in the production of the chemokines CCL8 and CXCL10. The CD14+ latency-associated secretome also suppresses the anti-viral activity of stimulated CD4+ T cells. Moreover, co-culture of activated autologous CD4+ T cells with