As cadmium is an inducer of ROS in monocytic cells [22,25], and the β2.7 gene in the absence of other HCMV factors, lowers ROS levels when over-expressed in rat aortic endothelial cells [39], we reasoned that β2.7 might lower ROS levels in the context of a latent infection. This evidence concerns the gene MRAP and disease arising from reactivation of latent virus.