Recognition of a virus-encoded ligand by a natural killer cell activation receptor.

Natural killer (NK) cells express inhibitory and activation receptors that recognize MHC class I-like molecules on target cells. These receptors may be involved in the critical role of NK cells in controlling initial phases of certain viral infections. Indeed, the Ly49H NK cell activation receptor confers in vivo genetic resistance to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infections, but its ligand was previously unknown.