CCMB scientists find protein that helps cells detect viruses

Scientists at Hyderabad-based CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) have discovered that a protein named DZIP3 acts as both a sensor that detects viral RNA and an activator that switches on the immune system, according to a study published in The EMBO Journal on Thursday, 22 October. The research, led by Senior Principal Scientist Dr Santosh Chauhan, shows that when DZIP3 encounters viral RNA inside a cell it changes shape, moves to the mitochondria, and triggers the production of Type-I interferons that block viruses from multiplying.

The team demonstrated that this pathway provides broad protection against several disease-causing viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Chikungunya, and Japanese Encephalitis virus. The findings confirm a hypothesis proposed by Dr Chauhan’s laboratory nearly in 2019 that certain human proteins might play a dual role in sensing viral genetic material and alerting the immune system. The Department of Biotechnology funded the research, and Dr Rinku Sahu was the study’s first author. The team is now developing small-molecule drug candidates designed to enhance DZIP3 activity, aiming to strengthen the body’s natural antiviral defences against emerging viral threats.