- Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Through the destabilization of CIITA, the human cytomegalovirus-encoded protein pUS28 antagonizes the expression of the HLA-II molecules CD74/Ii, HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, HLA-DM, and HLA-DP, diminishing the activation of HCMV-specific CD4+ T cells and reducing their secretion of antiviral cytokines.