CCMB experts discover ‘viral alarm switch’ in human cells to fight infections | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) researchers have discovered a mechanism through which human cells detect invading viruses and activate their immune defences before the pathogens multiply. The discovery could pave the way for developing drugs that strengthen the body’s natural ability to fight multiple viral infections, including Covid-19, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis.The research, led by Dr Santosh Chauhan, senior principal scientist at CCMB, has identified a protein called DZIP3 that performs two crucial functions — detecting viral genetic material and activating the cellular machinery responsible for launching an immune response. The findings were published in ‘The EMBO Journal’.How the viral alarm worksWhen a virus enters a human cell, the immune system must recognise its presence quickly to prevent replication. About seven years ago, Chauhan’s group hypothesised that certain human proteins could both recognise viral genetic material and tag cellular proteins to initiate an immune response.The latest study has established that DZIP3 performs this dual role. When it encounters viral RNA, the protein changes its shape and becomes activated. It then moves to the mitochondria, the cell’s energy-producing structures, where it tags and activates key immune defence proteins. This process triggers the production of Type-I interferons, defensive molecules that help prevent viruses from multiplying.Potential for antiviral drugsResearchers demonstrated that this pathway offers protection against several disease-causing viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis viruses.“Discovering how DZIP3 senses viral RNA and directly triggers the cell’s immune machinery gives us a deeper understanding of human immunity,” Chauhan said.“Uncovering these natural cell defence mechanisms opens up exciting new possibilities, and targeting DZIP3 with small molecules could lead to broad-spectrum antiviral therapies against emerging viral threats.”The team is now developing small-molecule drug candidates aimed at boosting DZIP3 activity to enhance antiviral immunity.Dr Rinku Sahu was the study’s first author, with collaborators from national and international institutions. The research received funding from the department of biotechnology.