To explore whether HCMV affects the immune evasion characteristics of tumors, we examined the impact of HCMV on several membrane proteins through RNA-Seq. As shown in the heatmap (Fig. 1A), infection with two distinct HCMV strains, Merlin and AD169, increased PD-L1 (encoded by CD274) expression in a time-dependent manner, with no significant changes in other membrane proteins or receptors. The gene discussed is CD274; the disease is infection.