from Michael Mach, Anna-Katharina Wiegers, Nadja Spindler and Thomas Winkler writing in Cytomegaloviruses: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Intervention:
The generation of antibodies represents a powerful tool of the adaptive immune system in the battle against viral infections. Targets for antibodies with potential antiviral activity are glycoproteins in the viral envelope and/or on the surface of infected cells. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the protective antibody response against cytomegaloviruses. Animal studies have unambiguously demonstrated the protective capacity of antibodies both in prophylaxis as well as in therapy of existing primary infection or reactivation. A number of human monoclonal antibodies have been isolated which show potent virus-neutralizing capacity and new antibody targets have been identified. However, we still need to expand our knowledge on the mechanisms of virus neutralization by antibodies and the mode of action of protective antibodies in vivo. Increasing this knowledge will help us to rationally design strategies to limit the consequences of infections in populations at risk for CMV-disease.
Further reading: Cytomegaloviruses: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Intervention