To determine the role of the HCMV pentameric complex for entry into microglia, AD169R, AD169IE2/YFP and TB40/E (m.o.i. 0.5) were pre-incubated with soluble NRP-2 (0.05–0.15 μg ml−1), along with non-specific antibody 1H2 (20 μg ml−1) as a negative inhibition control and analysed for infection 24 h.p.i. in ARPE-19 and C20 cells. Here, NRP2 is linked to infection.