It has been suggested that natural killer (NK) cells contribute to host defense against infections, but genetic evidence has been lacking. A new study of mouse strains susceptible to infection by cytomegalovirus indicates that the Klra8 (formerly Ly49H) stimulatory receptor is essential to resisting the virus. Such a receptor may have evolved as a response of NK cells to viral strategies to evade the immune system.
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Casanova, JL., Jouanguy, E. & Abel, L. A virus finds its natural killer. Nat Genet 28, 7–9 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0501-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0501-7
