Researchers Discover Unique Antiviral Defense in Sea Anemones, Challenging Evolutionary Assumptions
Scientists have uncovered a novel antiviral defense mechanism in sea anemones, revealing that these ancient creatures use a fundamentally different immune strategy compared to humans. The study, led by PhD candidate Ton Sharoni and Prof. Yehu Moran from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found that a protein in sea anemones, named CARDIB, performs the opposite function of a similar protein in humans. While the human protein MAVS activates immune defenses, CARDIB suppresses them, yet is crucial for the anemones' survival against viral infections. This discovery, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, suggests that different branches of the animal kingdom have evolved distinct methods to combat viruses, challenging the notion of a universal antiviral system. 
