Recently, it was reported that the forkhead box O (FoxO) transcription factor promotes human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication via direct binding to the promoters of the major immediate-early (MIE) genes, but how the FoxO factor impacts HCMV replication remains unknown. In this report, we found that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a beta herpesvirus member, could dramatically induce the expression of FOXOs in the infected human fibroblasts. The induced FOXOs were recruited into the viral replication compartments (vRC) in the nucleus, especially at the late stage of infection. Suppression of FOXO expression by RNA interference significantly inhibited HCMV replication, and the production of progeny virus was reduced remarkably. Mechanistically, FOXO knockdown intensively crippled viral late gene expression at the transcriptional level, while it only marginally affected viral DNA synthesis. This study highlights how FoxO enhances HCMV gene transcription and viral replication to promote productive infection

1. Virus-Induced FOXO Protein Facilitates Viral
Replication of Human Cytomegalovirus
Sirwan Sleman,1 and Rebin Majeed,2
Abstract: In this report, we found that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) could incredibly enhance the expression of FOXOs in the
infected cells of human fibroblast origin. The induced FOXOs were translocated and aggregated into the viral replication
compartments (vRC) in the nucleus of the infected cell at the late time post-infection. Suppression or overexpression of FOXO genes
intensively crippled viral late gene expression and the production of viral progeny, however; the viral DNA synthesis was only
marginally affected. Our report highlights the new insights into the impact of the FoxO factor on HCMV infection via the regulation
of early/late gene transcript.
Keywords- FoxO and Human Cytomegalovirus, FoxO transcription Factor, HCMV Late Viral Gene Expression, HCMV
Infection
Graphic Abstract
MIE=Major Immediate Early Genes

2. Biography
1. Author. Sirwan Sleman is with the Unit of Herpesvirus and Molecular Virology, Key Laboratory of Molecular
Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. Also
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah Iraq
E-mail: paywan02@gmail.com
2. Author Rebin Majeed is with the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah Iraq.
E-mail: rebin.majeed@univsul.edu.iq
First presenting the author's details
Full name: 1. Sirwan Salman Sleman
2. Rebin Kanabi Majeed
Contact number:+86 19921064544 (China)
Linked In account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirwan-selman-b18616192
Category: (Poster presentation)