In this thesis we focused on stem cell differentiation into neural lineage and an application of this differentiation. We have shown that all selected clonal ESC express markers of the early ICM, have the capacity to be differentiated towards more than one cell type and can generate embryoid bodies including cells of the three germ layers. We also studied cell tropism, infectious dynamics of CMV infection on proliferation, regeneration and differentiation of neural cells. We used ESC differentiated into neural lineage to investigate neural permissiveness to CMV infections. We showed that undifferentiated ESC are well protected against CMV infection but their differentiation into NPC makes them permissive to the virus.