A virus-encoded type I interferon decoy receptor enables evasion of host immunity through cell-surface binding

Abstract

Secreted cytokine decoy receptors encoded by viruses can act as potent immune evasion proteins modulating antiviral immunity. Here Hernaez et al. show that cell surface binding is required for efficient evasion of the host response by a secreted virus encoded type I IFN decoy receptor of vaccinia and ectromelia virus using an in vivo model of infection.