Enhanced reactivation of ultraviolet-irradiated human cytomegalovirus in normal host cells

Enhanced survival of UV-irradiated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is demonstrated in normal human cells exposed to UV light prior to infection. The UV fluence that gave rise to maximum UV reactivation falls in the range of 15 J/m2. A large number of temperature-sensitive HCMV mutants were found under the peak of reactivation. These results confirm the existence of inducible SOS functions in human cells.