Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Hyderabad, have discovered a key mechanism that helps human cells detect viral infections and activate the body’s immune defences. The discovery centres on DZIP3, a protein that acts as an early-warning sensor and triggers an antiviral response. Published in The EMBO Journal, the study reveals how DZIP3 recognises viral genetic material and activates immune proteins to help prevent viruses from multiplying. The findings could also support the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies.
DZIP3 Protein Detects Viral RNA and Activates Immunity
When a virus enters a human cell, the cell must detect the infection quickly and activate its defences before the virus can multiply. Around seven years ago, Dr Santosh Chauhan’s research group hypothesised that certain human proteins could perform two functions: recognise viral genetic material and activate the cellular machinery responsible for triggering an immune response. The new study confirms that DZIP3 performs this dual role. When DZIP3 detects viral RNA inside a cell, it changes its shape and becomes active. It then moves to the mitochondria, the cell’s energy-producing structures, where it tags and activates key immune defence proteins. As a result, the cell launches an antiviral response by releasing Type-I interferons. These signalling molecules help limit viral multiplication and strengthen the body’s defence against infection.
Study Demonstrates Protection Against Multiple Viruses
The research team demonstrated that the DZIP3-mediated pathway provides protection against several disease-causing viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis viruses. Importantly, the findings highlight how human cells can use a single protein to recognise viral RNA and initiate an immune response. Understanding this process could help researchers identify new ways to strengthen the body’s natural defences against a range of viral threats.
Researchers Explore Potential for Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Drugs
Building on these findings, Dr Chauhan’s team is developing small-molecule drug candidates designed to target and enhance DZIP3 activity. The researchers aim to boost the body’s natural antiviral immunity and explore new approaches to treating viral infections. “Discovering how DZIP3 senses viral RNA and directly triggers the cell’s immune machinery gives us a deeper understanding of human immunity,” said Dr Santosh Chauhan, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-CCMB and lead author of the study. He added that identifying these natural defence mechanisms could open new research opportunities, while targeting DZIP3 with small molecules may eventually support the development of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies against emerging viral threats.
Research Supported by the Department of Biotechnology
Dr Rinku Sahu served as the study’s first author, with researchers from national and international institutions contributing to the work. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, funded the research. As reported by ddnews.gov.in, although further research is needed to establish the therapeutic potential of targeting DZIP3, the discovery provides valuable insight into how human cells recognise viral infections and activate their immune defences. It could ultimately help guide the development of new antiviral strategies against existing and emerging diseases.