May play an immunosuppressive role by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and subsequently facilitating viral replication and generalization of infection (By similarity). Responsible for viral hemadsorption, which may help viral spread (By similarity). Increases virus replication in the tick vector at the step of virus uptake or replication in the tick gut (By similarity). May play a role in the host Golgi reorganization to yield viral factories (By similarity). May play a role in host cell penetration (By similarity). Both glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms interact (via C-terminus) with the host AP-1 complex. Localizes around the cytoplasmic viral factories which are probably derived from the host Golgi membrane (By similarity). Both proteolytic fragments localize to membrane compartements (By similarity). A minor fraction localizes on the host plasma membrane and on the outer viral envelope of budding particles (By similarity). Expressed in the late phase of the viral replicative cycle. The C-terminus contains repetitive amino-acids that may function as a cell-penetrating peptide. Cleaved into two fragments of 63 kDa and 26 kDa containing respectively the glycosylated N-terminus and the nonglycosylated C-terminus (By similarity). A full-length 89-kDa glycosylated form also exists (By similarity). Belongs to the asfivirus CD2 homolog protein family.