Compositions and methods for the therapy and diagnosis of cytomegalovirus

1. A method for the treatment of a CMV infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising an isolated anti-CMV antibody, wherein said antibody comprises,

(a) a V H region comprising

(i) a V H CDR1 region comprising the amino acid sequence of GFTFSS (SEQ ID NO: 60);

(ii) a V H CDR2 region comprising the amino acid sequence of VISSDANDKQ (SEQ ID NO: 61);

(iii) a V H CDR3 region comprising the amino acid sequence of DGTCSGGNCYSGLIDY (SEQ ID NO: 59); and

(b) a V L region comprising

(i) a V L CDR1 region comprising the amino acid sequence of RASQSVGGYLA (SEQ ID NO: 43);

(ii) a V L CDR2 region comprising the amino acid sequence of ASIRAT (SEQ ID NO: 64);

(iii) a V L CDR3 region comprising the amino acid sequence of HQRSNWPPLT (SEQ ID NO: 65).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises administering an anti-viral treatment.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said anti-viral treatment is ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir, valganciclovir, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is administered at a dose sufficient to neutralize CMV infection.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody binds an epitope of the glycoprotein b (gB) envelope protein of the CMV virus.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said epitope comprises the antigenic determinant 2 site 1 of gB, gp116.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an anti-viral treatment.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said anti-viral treatment is ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir, valganciclovir, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a second anti-CMV antibody.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said antibody is operably-linked to a therapeutic agent or a detectable label.