Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance
Published on: June 14, 2022
BST-2/tetherin: structural biology, viral antagonism, and immunobiology of a potent host antiviral factor
Melissa Swiecki1, Natalie S Omattage, Tom J Brett
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States.
Abstract:
BST-2 (also known as tetherin, CD317, or HM1.24) was first described as a potent interferon-inducible host antiviral factor nearly five years ago. Since that time, numerous reports have been published regarding the antiviral activity and immunological properties of this protein. BST-2 blocks viral replication by inhibiting enveloped virus budding from the surface of infected cells. To counteract this, most viruses have developed strategies to antagonize BST-2, each employing a unique mechanism. In this review, we summarize the antiviral function, structural biology and immunobiology of BST-2. Taken together, our current understanding of BST-2 suggests potential avenues as well as challenges to exploiting its action in the development of broad spectrum antiviral treatments.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

