| abstract |
Above all, the present invention provides methods useful for determining the level of HCMV infection in a host cell, and furthermore, the level of neutralizing antibodies present in a sample. The present invention encompasses the recognition that HCMV viruses with fluorescent moieties enable detection of viral infections (eg, by contacting host cells with the virus and then calculating intracellular fluorescence). In some embodiments, the level of HCMV infection is determined by fluorescence detection in which a test sample (eg, a serum sample) from a subject is pre-incubated with the virus. In some embodiments, the subject is vaccinated with an HCMV vaccine candidate. |