The B7 family proteins B7.1 (CD80) and B7.2 (CD86) are two well-studied costimulatory ligands that play critical roles in host T cell immunity against viral infection. In this study, the authors show that oligomeric M2 protein encoded by monkeypox virus serves as a viral decoy receptor and inhibits T cell activation mediated by hB7.1/2 co-stimulation via the blockade of CD28 binding to human B7.1/2, providing molecular mechanisms of poxvirus M2 function and immune evasion.
- Shangyu Yang
- Yong Wang
- Haiyan Zhao
