Cytomegalovirus (CMV) establishes lifelong infections with episodes of active replication. We hypothesized that recurrent CMV replication in older individuals may suppress protective immune responses to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and so potentiate pulmonary disease. Accordingly, levels of antibodies to three CMV antigen preparations were higher in NTM patients than in age-matched controls. This did not reflect broad-spectrum B cell activation as total immunoglobulin levels were not equivalently increased.
Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; immunosuppression; non-tuberculous mycobacteria.