PR002504 (Project)

Description:Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common herpesvirus that establishes a lifelong and persistent infection in its human host. HCMV infection in most people does not cause overt disease. However, in immunocompromised individuals, severe CMV-associated disease can lead to permanent disabilities and even death. Additionally, congenital CMV is the leading infectious cause of birth defects. Viruses have evolved to hijack host metabolic pathways to facilitate their replication cycle. We previously reported HCMV infection increases phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid levels, including PCs with VLCFAs. To expand upon the previously reported PC phenotype in HCMV infection, we determined the PC lipidome of several infected cell types grown under various growth conditions. Additionally, we determined which host pathways HCMV reprograms to induce PC lipid synthesis and describe when during infection PC lipids changes occur.