Exogenous thymidine is preferentially incorporated into human cytomegalovirus DNA in infected human fibroblasts.

The effect of human cytomegalovirus infection on cellular DNA synthesis in human fibroblasts was measured by fluorometry and by incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine. The results show that although HCMV infection stimulates cellular DNA synthesis in both quiescent and serum-stimulated cells, radiolabeled thymidine is almost exclusively incorporated into viral DNA.