An isolated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) membrane protein complex that comprises gH, gL and at least one more HCMV glycoprotein is provided. In some embodiments the complex consists of gH, gL and gO. In other embodiments the complex consists of gH, gL, pUL128, pUL130 and pUL131A. Processes for expressing and purifying such complexes, and subsequent uses of such complexes in immunogenic compositions and vaccines, are also provided.

A method for enhancing infectivity of HCMV virus particles is provided.

This disclosure provides modified cytomegalovirus (CMV) gL proteins and complexes comprising gL proteins. The modified gL proteins remain intact and are able to form complexes with other CMV proteins.

The present invention relates to a scalable process for the purification of human cytomegalovirus particles from cell culture medium. In particular, the process involves a two step chromatography process starting with an anion exchange chromatography step followed by a polishing chromatography step selected from mixed mode chromatography or cation exchange chromatography.

A method for enhancing infectivity of HCMV virus particles is provided.

The present disclosure provides a method to enhance the production of virus in cultured fibroblasts by supplementing the cells with a TCA cycle intermediate, aketoglutarate, or a derivative thereof, wherein virus production is enhanced compared to the same method canied out in the absence of a-ketoglutarate or the derivative thereof. In view of the art, the method provides an unexpected improvement on methods routinely practiced.

The disclosure describes HCMV ribonucleic acid (RNA) vaccines, as well as methods of using the vaccines and compositions comprising the vaccines.

A method of preparing a vaccine for immunization against a herpes virus comprising the steps of one of deleting, substituting, or modifying a UL148 gene and interfering with or modifying an expression of the UL148 gene. Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art The inventors observed that less extensively passaged HCMV strains that retain expression of gH/gL/UL128-131 can efficiently infect epithelial and endothelial cells.

The disclosure relates to HCMV ribonucleic acid (RNA) vaccines, as well as methods of using the vaccines and compositions comprising the vaccines.

The invention relates to a recombinant human cytomegalovirus (CMV) protein dimeric complex comprising CMV gH protein or a complex-forming fragment thereof, and CMV UL116 or a complex-forming fragment thereof. Also provided herein are nucleic acids encoding said gH/UL116 dimeric complex, host cells for recombinant expression of said gH/UL116 dimeric complex, and the use of said gH/UL116 dimeric complex for use as a vaccine antigen.