Open AccessThe cyclic dinucleotide 2′3′-cGAMP induces a broad antibacterial and antiviral response in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis
Author(s) -
Shally R. Margolis,
Peter A Dietzen,
Beth Hayes,
Susan C. Wilson,
Brenna C Remick,
Seemay Chou,
Russell E. Vance
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2109022118
Subject(s) - biology , sea anemone , stimulator of interferon genes , gene , interferon , transcription (linguistics) , microbiology and biotechnology , innate immune system , gene knockdown , drosophila melanogaster , rna , genetics , immune system , botany , linguistics , philosophy
Significance Cyclic dinucleotides are signaling molecules that originated in bacteria and were subsequently acquired and co-opted by animals for immune signaling. The major cyclic dinucleotide signaling pathway in mammals results in the production of antiviral molecules called interferons. Invertebrates such as sea anemones lack interferons, and thus it was unclear whether cyclic dinucleotide signaling would play a role in immunity in these animals. Here, we report that in the anemoneNematostella vectensis , cyclic dinucleotides activate both antiviral and antibacterial immune responses and do so through a conserved pathway. These results provide insights into the evolutionary origins of innate immunity and suggest a broader ancestral role for cyclic dinucleotide signaling that evolved toward more specialized antiviral functions in mammals.