The enhanced host-cell permissiveness of human cytomegalovirus is mediated by the Ras signaling pathway

► H-ras-transformed cells show increased permissiveness to HCMV compared to their parental non-transformed cells. ► Inhibition of the Ras pathway, effectively suppresses viral infection in the H-ras-transformed cells. ► HCMV promotes cellular foci formation and increased proliferation rate of the H-ras-transformed cells. ► HCMV-infected ras-transformed cells are more susceptible to apoptosis facilitating the efficient viral spread.