Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 19, 2026 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
Medical News: A new scientific study has shed important light on why certain strains of Human Cytomegalovirus, commonly known as HCMV, appear to be more aggressive in causing serious eye diseases, especially among Asian populations. HCMV is a widespread virus that usually remains silent in healthy individuals but can cause severe complications when it affects sensitive organs like the eyes. This new research helps explain why some people develop vision threatening conditions such as CMV retinitis and CMV anterior uveitis.
New research reveals why certain CMV strains are more dangerous to the eyes and harder for the immune system to stop
Why Cytomegalovirus in the Eye Matters
HCMV related eye diseases are increasingly being diagnosed across Asia, even in individuals who are otherwise healthy. These infections can lead to inflammation, retinal damage, vision loss, and in severe cases, blindness. Understanding why the virus behaves differently in the eye compared to the bloodstream has been a long-standing scientific puzzle.
What the Researchers Studied
The researchers closely examined a viral protein called glycoprotein B, which plays a crucial role in helping the virus enter human cells and hide from the immune system. Blood samples and eye fluid samples were collected from patients in Japan who had CMV infections in the bloodstream or in the eye. By analyzing 62 different samples, the team identified distinct viral genotypes, or genetic variants, circulating in different parts of the body.
The research was carried out by scientists from Kyushu University, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Duke NUS Medical School, Hokkaido University, University of Tsukuba, Osaka University, National Institute of Global Health and Medicine Japan, Hasanuddin University Indonesia, Oita University, Jichi Medical University, Tokushima University, National University of Singapore, and several affiliated medical centers across Japan and Singapore.
Key Findings Explained Simply
The study discovered that one viral type, known as gB2, was more common in blood samples, while two other new types, gB1 and gB3, were far more common in eye fluid. These new eye associated genotypes were also found to exist in much higher viral amounts, meaning they replicate more efficiently once inside the eye.
More importantly, gB1 and gB3 carried subtle genetic changes that allowed them to evade the immune system more effectively. These new variants produced viral fragments that were poorly recognized by immune cells, giving the virus a better chance to survive and spread within the eye.
The researchers also identified a specific novel genetic mutation, called K518R, that was very common in Asian eye related strains but rare in European strains. Computer modeling showed that this mutation likely strengthens the virus structure, making it better at infecting eye tissues and resisting immune attacks.
Why These Findings Are Important
This
Medical News rep
ort highlights that not all CMV infections are the same. Certain new viral strains appear specially adapted to the eye, helping explain why ocular CMV diseases are more common and more severe in Asia. These findings could guide the development of better diagnostic tools, targeted treatments, and more effective vaccines that account for regional viral differences.
Conclusion
This study offers strong evidence that specific new genetic forms of Human Cytomegalovirus are better suited to infect the eye and avoid immune detection. By revealing how these viral genotypes differ between blood and ocular tissues, the research provides a clearer understanding of why some CMV infections become vision threatening. These insights could significantly influence future prevention strategies, vaccine design, and personalized treatment approaches for CMV related eye diseases.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed Journal of Medical Virology.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.70786
For the latest on new CMV genotypes, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/ophthalmology-(eye-diseases)
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