JERUSALEM, June 26 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers has discovered a previously unknown way that sea anemones defend themselves against viruses, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement on Friday.
The new findings, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, challenge the long-held belief that animals rely on a single basic strategy to fight viral infections.
The scientists identified on sea anemones a previously unknown protein called CARDIB, which appeared similar to MAVS, a protein that helps humans detect viruses and activate immune defenses.
The researchers used gene-editing technology to delete the CARDIB gene in sea anemones and then exposed them to viruses.
The discovery suggests that different animal groups may have evolved distinct ways to protect themselves from viruses.
JERUSALEM, June 26 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers has discovered a previously unknown way that sea anemones defend themselves against viruses, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said in a statement on Friday.
The new findings, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, challenge the long-held belief that animals rely on a single basic strategy to fight viral infections.
The scientists identified on sea anemones a previously unknown protein called CARDIB, which appeared similar to MAVS, a protein that helps humans detect viruses and activate immune defenses.
The researchers used gene-editing technology to delete the CARDIB gene in sea anemones and then exposed them to viruses. The modified animals proved far more vulnerable to infection.
Further tests in outdoor marine environments produced similar results, confirming the protein's key role in natural as well as lab conditions.
The discovery suggests that different animal groups may have evolved distinct ways to protect themselves from viruses. ■
