CXCL12 and cytomegalovirus infection: To determine whether HCMV infection affects CXCL12-induced EVT migration and invasion, the functional response of HCMV-infected cells to exogenous CXCL12 was assessed using a quantitative FluoroBlok assay that has been used widely to characterize cytotrophoblast migration and invasion to chemotactic stimuli[13,32,33].