RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Hassan-Walker, Aycan F. A1 Cope, Alethea V. A1 Griffiths, Paul D. A1 Emery, Vincent C.YR 1998 T1 Transcription of the human cytomegalovirus natural killer decoy gene, UL18, in vitro and in vivo JF Journal of General Virology, VO 79 IS 9 SP 2113 OP 2116 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-79-9-2113 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Multiplex RT-PCR analysis of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication in human fibroblasts showed transcription of the natural killer (NK) cell decoy gene, UL18, from 72 h onwards. Transcription of glycoprotein B (gpUL55; a late gene) occurred from early time-points and peaked at 24 h post-infection. UL18 mRNA was also detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of organ transplant recipients with HCMV viraemia, especially those with HCMV DNA virus loads greater than 105 genomes/ml whole blood. Thus, UL18 is produced via a low abundance transcript late during the infectious cycle at a time coincidental with the increased risk of NK cell lysis as a consequence of class I HLA down-regulation., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-79-9-2113