The great escape: viral strategies to counter BST-2/tetherin

PLoS Pathog. 2010 May 13;6(5):e1000913. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000913.

Abstract

The interferon-induced BST-2 protein has the unique ability to restrict the egress of HIV-1, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), Ebola virus, and other enveloped viruses. The observation that virions remain attached to the surface of BST-2-expressing cells led to the renaming of BST-2 as "tetherin". However, viral proteins such as HIV-1 Vpu, simian immunodeficiency virus Nef, and KSHV K5 counteract BST-2, thereby allowing mature virions to readily escape from infected cells. Since the anti-viral function of BST-2 was discovered, there has been an explosion of research into several aspects of this intriguing interplay between host and virus. This review focuses on recent work addressing the molecular mechanisms involved in BST-2 restriction of viral egress and the species-specific countermeasures employed by various viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • HIV Infections / metabolism*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / growth & development*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Virion / metabolism
  • Virus Diseases / metabolism
  • Virus Diseases / virology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • BST2 protein, human
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins