Human CD1d molecules are resistant to human cytomegalovirus US2- and US11-mediated degradation

► HCMV US2 and US11 bind to CD1d. ► The cell surface expression of CD1d is not affected by US2 and US11. ► CD1d is resistant to degradation induced by US2 and US11. ► A hybrid CD1d with the HLA-A2.1 cytosolic tail is efficiently degraded by US11. ► HCMV infection does not down-regulate the cell surface expression of CD1d.