Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
You can't shoot webs…but your cells can🕸️
Scientists at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit and the MRC Centre for Virus Research have discovered how a protein in our immune systems called ZNFX1 can trap viruses with a temporary sticky web - made from chains of a molecule called ubiquitin.
This superhero technique slows the viruses’ spread through the body.
But what happens when this mechanism goes wrong?
Mutations in the ZNFX1 gene can cause severe autoimmune and neurological disease. And scientists found that when ZNFX1 is mutated that the "spider" webs don’t form properly, suggesting that they play an important role in defending our cells.
Understanding how the webs form and how to make them last longer could lead to new antiviral medicines in the future.
#SpiderMan #ImmuneSystem #Research #Science #DidYouKnow
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We are UK Research and Innovation, the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation. If you're a UK tax payer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel. And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels:
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Or sign up for our weekly newsletter public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKRI/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKRI_newsletter
You can't shoot webs…but your cells can🕸️
Scientists at the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit and the MRC Centre for Virus Research have discovered how a protein in our immune systems called ZNFX1 can trap viruses with a temporary sticky web - made from chains of a molecule called ubiquitin.
This superhero technique slows the viruses’ spread through the body.
But what happens when this mechanism goes wrong?
Mutations in the ZNFX1 gene can cause severe autoimmune and neurological disease. And scientists found that when ZNFX1 is mutated that the "spider" webs don’t form properly, suggesting that they play an important role in defending our cells.
Understanding how the webs form and how to make them last longer could lead to new antiviral medicines in the future.
#SpiderMan #ImmuneSystem #Research #Science #DidYouKnow
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are UK Research and Innovation, the UK's largest public funder of research and innovation. If you're a UK tax payer, your contributions help fund the work we showcase on our channel. And if you liked this video, follow us on these channels:
Medium: medium.com/@UKRI
Instagram: instagram.com/weareukri
Facebook: facebook.com/weareUKRI
YouTube: youtube.com/c/UKResearchandInnovation
Or sign up for our weekly newsletter public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKRI/subscriber/new?topic_id=UKRI_newsletter
