Viral decoy vetoes killer cell

Viruses avoid destruction by T cells through masking their presence by not expressing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. However, natural killer (NK) cells destroy any cells that do not express MHC molecules. Some viruses, including cytomegalovirus, have been found to evade detection and destruction by natural killer (NK) cells as well by adopting a decoy approach and expressing a homologue of normal MHC molecules.