Cytomegalovirus infection in the fetus, infant, child, and adolescent: An overview of virus genetics and pathogenesis, disease burden, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, antiviral resistance, and drug targets

摘要

This special issue of Infectious Disorders-Drug Targets focuses on human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection from apedi-atric standpoint, presenting state-of-the-art reviews by experts in the field, with whom I have been privileged to collaborate. This issue will cover congenital infections in general, congenital CMV infection specifically, infection in the compromised host, CMV genetics and pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, antiviral treatment and resistance, and CMV vaccine development. Many of these authors participate in the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders CMV and Hearing Multicenter Screening (CHIMES) Study, which is providing invaluable information on the incidence, detection, and sequelae of congenital CMV infection by screening more than 100,000 newborns for congenital CMV infection and following those infected for hearing outcomes [1,2]. While this issue was in preparation, Andrei, De Clercq, and Snoeck published an extraordinary overview of drug targets in CMV infection in this journal [3]. This special issue both expands on that foundation and emphasizes the importance of CMV infection in the pediatric population.