M117 is required for MCMV dissemination to the salivary glands.

Primary MEF (A) or SVEC4-10 endothelial cells (B) were infected with WT and mutant MCMV at an MOI 0.02 TCID₅₀/cell. Supernatants of infected cells were harvested at the indicated time point after infection and titrated. The experiments were done in triplicate. Mean ±SEM are shown (C-H) Mice were infected intraperitoneally with 10⁵ PFU. After 3, 7, and 14 days viral titers in the spleen (C, D), lungs (E, F), or salivary glands (G, H) were determined. Mean titers ±SEM are shown. DL: detection limit.