Nature Immunology, Published online: 11 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41590-026-02614-3 MDA5 detects double-stranded RNA during viral infections. This work shows that MDA5 binds aberrant host RNA induced during viral infection. Rescue of aberrant cytoplasmic RNA during infection abrogated MDA5 activation.
Loss of cellular RNA homeostasis contributes to MDA5 activation during virus infection
Jan Rehwinkel