Viral MIP-2 is one of the three chemokine-like proteins expressed by the human herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, KSHV) and the other is ViMIP-1 and ViMIP-3. Viral MIP-II cDNA encodes a 94 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with a 23 aa residue signal peptide that is cleaved to yield a 71 aa residue mature protein. It shares 41 % and 48 % with human MIP-1α and ViMIP-1, respectively. ViMIP-2 has been shown to have antagonist activity towards a wide range of chemokine receptors and has functions of blocking infection by several different human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains. It may form part of the response to host defenses contributing to virus-induced neoplasia and may have relevance to KSHV and HIV-I interactions. Additionally, ViMIP-2 has been shown to activate and chemoattract human eosinphils.